Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received a proposal from the Health Service Executive to establish four hospital networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28927/05]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the establishment of four hospital networks as opposed to the ten previously announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28901/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will release the proposals from the Health Service Executive to the Joint Committee on Health and Children to establish four hospital networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28928/05]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if hospitals will be reconfigured into four hospital networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28929/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the establishment of four hospital networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28919/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 112, 118, 124 and 152 together.

I have been advised that the Health Service Executive is currently considering a proposal to put in place, as part of its national hospitals office, four administrative regions for hospital services. These are the western region, Dublin/north-east region, southern region and Dublin/mid-Leinster region. This proposal, if implemented, would not necessarily mean a reduction in the existing ten hospital networks. The proposed administrative regions for acute hospital services would be the same as the existing four regional structures for delivering primary, community and continuing care.

I understand that the aim of the proposal, which is still being considered within the HSE, is to achieve greater co-ordination of service delivery at regional level. It recognises that one of the problems to date with the health service is the lack of co-ordination between the acute services and the community services. A seamless delivery of services is the key to meeting patient needs and requirements. Lack of cohesion in this area has led to people accessing services in inappropriate settings. Co-ordination is an essential component in the spectrum of health care provision required to achieve responsive and appropriate delivery.

It is entirely for the board of the HSE to decide how best to organise the management and delivery of health and personal social services. Any measures which impact positively on patients will have my support.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce more MRI scanners to the public health system; if so, the amount of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28926/05]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of MRI scanners in the public service which are in use 24 hours a day seven days a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28925/05]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of MRI scanners which exist in the public health service; the number which are in use in the public health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28924/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 134 and 177 together.

The Deputies' 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. The national hospitals office is organised into networks. Within each network, hospitals provide full CAT scanning services in one of three ways, on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on-call for emergencies outside normal working hours, or at neighbouring hospitals. The table outlines the numbers of scanners in each hospital and their hours of operation.