Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the views expressed by a person (details supplied) that larger hospitals such as St. Vincent's and the Mater are not the best place for child patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14606/05]

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 services at acute hospitals. Accordingly, my Department has requested the director of the executive's national hospitals office to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a 24 hour ambulance service will be provided to transfer critically ill children to larger hospitals quickly and safely for specialist interventions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14607/05]

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. Responsibility for the issue raised by the Deputy rests with the national hospitals office of the health service executive. Accordingly, my Department has requested the director of the national hospitals office to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department provided €300,000 to the Health Services Executive, eastern regional area, in December 2004 for the provision of a new vehicle for the mobile intensive care ambulance service. While the service currently facilitates the transport of adult patients, the executive has advised that the new vehicle will be equipped with paediatric monitoring equipment and will have the capacity to transport small children.