John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that it is virtually impossible to get through to the Health Service Executive in Dublin, that repeated voicemails go unanswered and that the service is inefficient; the telephone numbers which are the best to ring to inquire about medical cards for constituents; the reason for the delay in awarding a medical card to a person (details supplied) Dublin 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14298/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive established its parliamentary affairs division in April 2005 to provide an effective mechanism and specific resource, to address the information needs of Members in connection with the discharge by the executive of its statutory responsibilities under the Health Act 2004. The executive's parliamentary affairs division provides a central contact for all requests for information relating to matters within the statutory remit of the executive.

Last January I circulated an information note to all Members giving details of the executive's arrangements for handling inquiries from Members. This note included a list of contact numbers and e-mail addresses which Members could use to make direct representations to local health areas regarding local health matters. In addition, the chief executive officer of the executive wrote to Members on 1 March 2006 updating the information previously provided and advising of further initiatives being adopted by the executive, which include the establishment of a central dedicated e-mail address through which Members may submit inquiries to the executive and the identification of two dedicated telephone numbers in the executive's central parliamentary affairs office to enable Members to obtain assistance with inquiries.

My Department has been informed by the executive's parliamentary affairs division that a reply has issued to the Deputy regarding the provision of a medical card to the person referred to in his question.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if home help hours granted over the past five years of one hour per day for five days per week will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason for cutting their hours to three hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14344/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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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, the Department of Health and Children 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.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if assistance will be given to a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 5 regarding extra funding in 2006; and if the maximum support will be given. [14354/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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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, the Department of Health and Children 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.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a decision will issue on an application for domiciliary care allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14357/06]

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, the Department of Health and Children 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.