Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 66: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the further action she has taken with respect to the inter-related and ongoing problems of services and staffing at Monaghan General Hospital and Cavan General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9301/05]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken with the Health Service Executive dealing with Monaghan General Hospital regarding the unsatisfactory situation and lack of clarification regarding the surgical services which are available and will be provided in the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9427/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 78 together.

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. Accordingly, my Department has requested the director of the national hospitals office at the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputies in relation to the issues raised.

Following the preparation of a report by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, regarding surgical services at Cavan General Hospital, my Department recently facilitated a meeting with representatives of the college and the director of the national hospitals office. The issues arising from the RCSI report and other issues relevant to the reconfiguration of services across the Cavan-Monaghan hospital group are being progressed by the director of the national hospitals office.