Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that 10% of parliamentary questions referred by her to the Health Service Executive in the six months of 2006 remain unanswered; her further views on concerns over the lengthy delays in securing answers to questions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35477/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In the first 6 months of this year, Deputies asked 2,222 Parliamentary Questions which were appropriate for direct reply, either in part or in full, by the HSE having regard to its statutory remit. These questions covered a broad scope of issues, ranging from the provision of services to individuals to national operational or infrastructural matters. The Executive has informed my Department that to date final replies have issued to 2,084 (94%) of these questions of which, 1,222 replies issued within 20 working days.

The HSE's Parliamentary Affairs Division handles the centralised receipt, assignment and tracking of PQs within the HSE's network of operations. It also has the capacity to monitor overall performance in relation to the timely issue of replies and to propose developments in that regard. The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Professor Drumm, has previously directly informed Oireachtas members of the importance he attaches to this area of work. I am aware that he is very focussed on improving the turnaround time for replies to the greatest possible extent taking account of the complexity of the Questions and the availability of information sought.