Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the guidelines which have been drawn up by the Department for the disposal of clinical waste materials by persons with MRSA being cared for in their own homes. [33920/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Clinical or health care risk waste generated in hospitals is disposed of under strict conditions in disinfection treatment plants licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Guidelines dealing with the safe segregation, packaging and storage of health care risk waste have been circulated to hospitals and health agencies by my Department for a number of years. The latest edition of the guidelines was circulated in April 2004.

The guidelines were drawn up in consultation with personnel in the health services, the Health and Safety Authority and a committee representative of the Infection Control Nurses Association — Irish regional group, and the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists. Comprehensive recommendations for the handling and packaging of all forms of infectious waste in the hospital environment are included in the guidelines.

No specific guidelines have been drawn up by my Department on the management of clinical waste materials from patients with MRSA treated in their own homes. However, my Department is requesting the parliamentary affairs division of the Health Service Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.