Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding her areas of responsibility; for example, parliamentary questions about elder abuse, orthodontic treatment, patients waiting to be admitted to hospital and so on have all been referred to the Health Service Executive for replies; the areas on which she will answer parliamentary questions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28610/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Prior to the establishment of the Health Service Executive, HSE, parliamentary questions concerning access to services by individuals or in specific geographic areas, were referred to the chief executive officer of the relevant health board for direct reply.

Pursuant to the Health Act 2004, the functions of the health boards were transferred to the HSE. Under the Act, the HSE has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Consequently, operational questions fall within the statutory responsibility of the HSE.

In addition, the establishment of the HSE brought into being a new unitary system for the delivery and management of health services. Under the 2004 Act, the HSE has its own Vote. Accordingly, it is also responsible for service delivery and management questions of a national dimension, including the establishment of service priorities.

The Health Act 2004 contains significant provisions dealing with the accountability of the HSE. These include specific provision for attendance by its chief executive officer before Oireachtas committees to give an account of the general administration of the executive. The chief executive officer is also accountable to Dáil Éireann as the accounting officer in regard to the appropriation accounts of the executive. Part 7 of the Act provides for the corporate plan, annual service plan, annual report and accounts, prepared by the executive, to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

As Minister, I am responsible for the legislative and regulatory framework underpinning the delivery of health and personal social services, national policy issues including overall service, human resources and industrial relations, workforce planning, resource allocation, performance management and health service reform issues, and issues relating to my own Department.