Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 825: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of budget 2007, there has been an increase in the allocation to a group (details supplied) in Dublin 7 in view of the work this group carries out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2158/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the funding, 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.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 826: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will explain the apparent contradiction in approving funding to AMNCH Tallaght of €298,000 to put in place services based on the National Working Group on Cystic Fibrosis services to support on additional 4.1 staff; and introducing two caveats which prevent this taking place. [2160/07]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 827: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason, having allocated funding for the development of cystic fibrosis services she introduced a condition that in order to implement the CF development plan each hospital must achieve break-even for the year and comply with staff ceiling controls which ensures that the necessary clinical appointments cannot take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2161/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 855: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will end the staff ban on the €7 million spending required services to help cystic fibrosis patients. [2309/07]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 941: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to ensure funding provided to upgrade services for patients with cystic fibrosis are used as intended; if staff ceilings will be relaxed in order to accommodate the employment of additional staff to cater for this area of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3063/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 826, 827, 855 and 941 together.

I have identified the enhancement of services for people with cystic fibrosis as a key priority in 2006 and again in 2007. Development funding of €4.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive in 2006 to facilitate the recruitment of additional medical, nursing and allied health professional staff to improve services for cystic fibrosis patients. Additional funding of €2 million has been allocated this year to build on the investment provided in 2006.

Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the HSE has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, in accordance with Section 22(4) of the Health Act 2004, my Department notified the HSE of a revised employment ceiling for the health service to end-2006 taking account of approved service developments. It is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public.

I understand the specific issue relating to AMNCH Tallaght was raised at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children and the HSE advised that approval issued in 2006 to the Hospital for the recruitment of the additional staff.