Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the arrangements in place to ensure that Deputies receive replies to parliamentary questions that are referred by her to the HSE; the average time taken to reply to a question referred to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20857/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since the establishment of the Health Service Executive, the chief officers, that is, the former health board CEOs, in each of its administrative areas have continued to deal with parliamentary questions in accordance with the arrangements which previously operated under the health boards. This arrangement was calculated to avoid any erosion in the accountability — as regards the timeliness or quality of replies — arising under the parliamentary question system since the health boards were abolished.

The interim CEO of the executive has assured me that, following the transfer of responsibilities from the chief officers to the national directors on 15 June 2005, similar arrangements have been made in each administrative area so that parliamentary questions will continue to be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

The executive recently established a parliamentary affairs division. A key function of this division involves the making of arrangements to respond to queries raised in parliamentary questions that are appropriate for direct reply by the executive, having regard to its object and functions under the Health Act 2004.

The parliamentary affairs division monitors, throughout the executive's national directorates and administrative areas, the timeliness of replies and follows up immediately where a reply has not issued within 20 working days of receipt of the referral. The subject matter of questions can differ greatly in terms of their complexity and the extent of the detail sought. This can impact on the length of time required to assemble the information in order to reply to the query raised. The executive informs me that, on average, 75% of all replies are issued within the timeframe referred to.

As stated in the executive's service plan for 2005, this is a priority area of work for its corporate affairs directorate. I am satisfied that, in the organisational arrangements currently being made to complete the transition to the unitary system, due importance and attention is being given by the executive to enhancing its capacity to respond in an efficient and timely manner to requests for information from Members of the Oireachtas.