Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received recommendations from the Health Service Executive working group relating to the Pollock report; if and when same will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35681/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As part of the overall funding for health services in 2006, additional funding of €4.78 million is being allocated specifically for the development of cystic fibrosis services. I wish to see significant improvement next year in the level of services available to persons with cystic fibrosis. The current service deficits in this area are widely acknowledged and have been identified most notably in the Pollock report, and by the Health Service Executive working group which is looking at this issue.

My Department is advised that the working group, which is due to report shortly, will be making specific recommendations in relation to a range of service improvements required for persons with CF, in particular the need to increase the level of clinical, nursing and allied health professional staffing in CF units around the country. As part of the implementation process I would like to see a particular focus on addressing the identified deficits at the national adult referral centre at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself regarding the adequacy and quality of the various health centres throughout County Kildare with particular reference to the need for expansion of services and facilities in line with population requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35682/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself regarding the standard and quality of services and facilities in all nursing homes throughout the country; the degree to which up-to-date inspections and reports are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35683/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that with regard to the standard and quality of services and facilities in nursing homes the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, made under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, set out the standards which private nursing homes must adhere to. The Health Service Executive currently carries out inspections in private nursing homes. In the context of the Health Bill 2005, the process has begun to review the current system with a view to strengthening the powers available to those involved in inspecting facilities and to extend a strengthened inspection system to public facilities.

It is also intended that the Bill will provide for the setting and monitoring of standards for residential facilities for older people. To this end, the Department has commenced a review of the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, and will be working in conjunction with the HSE, the SSI and other relevant bodies, with the intention of developing a new set of standards that would apply to all residential services for older people. In response to the degree to which up-to-date inspections and reports are available, the Department has requested 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.