Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 197: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the maxillo facial service for the north-west that has been located in Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry will be safeguarded; if there are any outstanding proposals made by the cross-Border working group that have as yet to be progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4628/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of oral maxillo facial services for the north-western region.

My Department allocated additional revenue funding of €1.2 million in July 2004, to the North Western Health Board to facilitate the provision of a joint oral maxillo facial service at Altnagelvin Hospital. My Department has asked the chief officer of the north western area of the executive to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the progress of this development.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 198: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if services will be improved for all patients with cystic fibrosis; and if she will invest €8 million immediately. [4632/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 208: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason she has not met to date with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland; if she will meet with this organisation in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4709/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the review of cystic fibrosis services by a person (details supplied) and the 11 recommendations made by same; if these recommendations will be implemented as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4710/05]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason cystic fibrosis patients in Northern Ireland have a longer survival rate than those in the Republic; the way in which the recommendation contained in the Pollack report will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4717/05]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 240: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason cystic fibrosis patients in Northern Ireland have a longer survival rate than those in the Irish Republic (details supplied); the way in which she sees the recommendation contained in the Pollack report being implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4965/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 198, 208 to 210, inclusive, and 240 together.

I welcome the recent Pollack report commissioned by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland on the treatment of cystic fibrosis in Ireland. The Health Service Executive, which has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services, recently met with the association and has agreed to its request to establish a working group to consider the recommendations in the report.

The report provides an assessment of need for current and future cystic fibrosis patients and makes a number of recommendations with regard to numbers and types of staff appropriate for a modern, multi-disciplinary cystic fibrosis service. The report concludes that in the future it will be essential to base cystic fibrosis care in fewer units of a more significant size in order to sustain viable staffing levels and to ensure that staff have a sufficient workload to enable them to maintain their skills level.

I understand that the Health Service Executive is pursuing with St. Vincent's Hospital, which is designated as the national adult cystic fibrosis centre, proposals for improvement to the physical infrastructure to support the highly professional treatment and care services provided there at the moment.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position of an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for a brain scan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4641/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of health services to persons residing in County Kildare. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a back operation at Tallaght Hospital for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be expedited; the reason for the postponements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4648/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person referred to by the Deputy resides in County Carlow, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's south eastern area to investigate the matter raised and reply directly to the Deputy.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 201: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received an application from a group (details supplied) in Dublin 5 for a site at Abbotstown, Dublin; if the OPW will be of assistance to this group in its endeavours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4659/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act, 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for palliative care. I wish to advise the Deputy that my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, has received correspondence and she has written to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, about this matter.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 202: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied) at the county clinic, Kilkenny; and the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4677/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person referred to by the Deputy resides in County Kilkenny, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's south eastern area to investigate the matter raised and reply directly to the Deputy.