Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 307: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has issued any policy directives to the various hospitals throughout the country following the publication of the recent hygiene audit with particular reference to institutions in which patients might be at greater risk from MRSA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35675/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is now a matter for the Health Service Executive. This includes responsibility for acute hospital services. The prevention and control of health care associated infections, HCAIs, is a priority issue for the Health Service Executive. Effective infection control measures, including environmental cleanliness and hand hygiene, are central to the control of HCAIs, including drug-resistant organisms such as MRSA.

The results of the national hygiene audit will form the basis for the changes that are required in both work environments and work practices so as to meet the highest possible standards of cleanliness in hospital settings. The HSE is making an initial capital grant of €20 million available to hospitals to implement the recommendations of the audit. The HSE will also publish national infection control standards and national cleaning standards — a consistent and robust set of hygiene standards for hospitals. Where previously standards may have depended on the approach of a particular hospital or health board, the HSE can now ensure every hospital will share and meet the same high standards of cleanliness and infection control.

The national hygiene audit of acute hospitals will be repeated in early 2006 in order to assess the extent of the improvements made at hospital level since the publication of the first audit report. My Department is continuing to engage with the HSE to agree on a series of actions over the next period of time so that MRSA can be effectively dealt with so as to see a reduction in the incidence and effects of these infections.