Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 145: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that fewer than fifty percent of parliamentary questions from this office referred by her to the Health Service Executive are replied to within a 20 working day period and before a follow up parliamentary question has been tabled; that interim replies are not issued as a matter of routine when the 20 working day period is exceeded; that the tabling of a follow-up parliamentary question usually prompts an immediate reply from the Health Service Executive, indicating that the delay was not due to inaccessibility of the information sought; if she considers this acceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27743/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department has been informed by the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive (PAD) that during the period 1st September 2005 to 30 June 2006 the HSE received 46 questions for direct reply to the Deputy and that considerably more than 50% of these questions were responded to within the 20 working day time frame. The Deputy may wish to have his office contact the manager of the PAD central office at 01-6352505 in regard to its figures on replies issued to him.

In relation to the Deputy's point about follow-up questions, the HSE has assured my Department that responses are issued as soon as the information is gathered and finalised.

The Health Service Executive is conscious of the need to improve its performance in replying directly to Deputies on matters raised in parliamentary questions, including the issue of interim replies. In that connection the HSE is increasing the number of staff assigned to the PAD's central office and is developing the operation of its area offices. The Deputy will be aware from the recent meeting which the CEO of the HSE arranged with Oireachtas members, that the expansion of the PAD's staffing is part of a range of initiatives by the HSE aimed at enhancing the provision of information to Oireachtas members.