Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an appointment with a psychologist in view of the fact that they have been waiting at least six months; and when this person will be helped. [12838/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, 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.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the services that would remain in the local children's accident and emergency units in the event that all children's inpatient services were consolidated in a single site; the access parents would have to short-term observation wards, outpatient consultant clinics, diagnostic and monitoring facilities, minor surgery and so on; and her plans to undertake consultation with the representatives of parents and patients before final decisions are made on such restructuring. [12843/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On 3 February last, the Health Service Executive published a report on the delivery of tertiary paediatric services in this country. This report was commissioned by the Health Service Executive at my request.

The report, which was prepared by McKinsey and Company, recommends that best outcomes for children should be provided by one national tertiary paediatric centre, which would also provide all secondary paediatric services for the greater Dublin area. The report recommended that these secondary services would be supported by strategically located accident and emergency facilities.

Arising from the report's recommendations, a joint HSE-Department of Health and Children task group was established to progress matters and to advise on the optimal location for the new facility. The group's report is expected shortly. When a decision has been taken in relation to the new facility, the HSE will examine the organisational arrangements necessary to progress the development, including the arrangements for the provision of paediatric accident and emergency services. My primary concern is to ensure that we arrive at a solution which is in the best interests of the children of this country.