Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 225: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of incidents involving the swallowing of foreign objects that have taken place in psychiatric centres in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22435/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 229: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of deaths caused by choking or related complications that have taken place in psychiatric hospitals and units in the past five years on a yearly and hospital basis since 1995; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22439/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 229 together.

According to information provided in the annual reports of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, there were three deaths due to asphyxia from the inhalation of food or other material in psychiatric inpatient settings in 2001 and one such death in 2002. One death in 2001 was due to aspiration pneumonia following the ingestion of an article of clothing. A breakdown of these figures is not available on a hospital basis. Withe regard to serious incidents, while such incidents were reported to the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, collation of the information in the format requested by the Deputy is not available.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 226: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of reported incidents involving the swallowing of foreign objects that have taken place at St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22436/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of reported incidents involving the swallowing of foreign objects requiring surgery that have taken place at St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22437/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of deaths caused by choking or related complications that have taken place at St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman on a yearly basis since 1995. [22438/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 228, inclusive, together.

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.