Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects the Health Service Executive national neurosciences needs assessment report to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41415/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive is committed to progressing the development of neuroscience services. Neuroscience includes neurology, neurophysiology and neurosurgery. A national neurosciences needs assessment is currently underway. This assessment is guided by the previous Comhairle na nOspideal report on neurology and neurophysiology and the recently published report on neurosurgery. It aims to clearly identify the requirements for neuroscience services as a whole across the country.

The HSE has informed my Department that an interim progress report is due to be submitted to the National Hospitals Office shortly and the final Report will be submitted early next year. The Government provided an additional €3m in 2006 to develop neuroscience services and the recently published Estimates for the Health Service Executive provides a further €4m to continue these developments into 2007.

The HSE is developing additional neurology services in Waterford, Limerick and Sligo through the appointment of additional consultant neurologist teams. In addition the HSE has approved the appointment of an additional consultant neurosurgeon with a special interest in paediatrics for Beaumont Hospital.