Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount deducted from the pensions or allowances of patients in public or publicly funded psychiatric facilities in each year for the past six years. [6238/05]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount deducted from the Disability Allowances for patients accommodated in State or State funded facilities in each year for the past six years. [6239/05]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of pension deductions for nursing home patients accommodated in privately operated publicly contracted beds each year for the past six years. [6241/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take QuestionsNos. 129 to 131, inclusive, together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Services Executive, HSE, 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. Accordingly, my Department has requested the HSE to provide data for the amounts deducted from eligible patients regarding long stay charges in publicly funded long stay residential units. Fully comprehensive information is not yet available covering the wide range of programmes concerned. However, the HSE has begun the process of collating this information and in this context my Department has asked the HSE to investigate the matter raised and reply directly to the Deputy.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by a person (details supplied). [6242/05]

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 in question resides in Dublin, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Question No. 214 of 15 February 2005, the person who will have the final decision within the Health Service Executive in regard to the national service plan to be presented to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6243/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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With effect from 1 January 2005, under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive has responsibility for the delivery of health services. Under section 31(1) of the Act, the executive is obliged to prepare, adopt and then submit to me for approval a service plan for the financial year or other period as may be determined by me. No one person within the executive makes the final decision on the service plan: it is a matter for the board of the executive. Sub-section (8) provides that not later than 21 days after receiving the service plan, I shall either approve it or issue a direction under sub-section (9) that it be amended. If I approve it, under sub-section (13), I am obliged to ensure that a copy of the approved plan is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days after it has been approved by me. The national service plan will be informed by the guiding principles underpinning the health strategy, namely equity, people-centredness, quality and accountability. The plan will cover all the major programmes of care.