Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the waiting times for patients to be transferred to Beaumont Hospital, neurosurgical department, following requests from other hospitals; if her attention has been drawn to the lack of beds in Beaumont to accommodate seriously ill patients who have been recommended for transfer to this specialist unit by other specialists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6069/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has the operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, and is therefore the appropriate body to provide the specific information requested by the Deputy. My Department has asked the Executive's Parliamentary Affairs Division to reply directly to the Deputy in this regard.

The Health Service Executive recently published a Review of Neurosurgical Services in Ireland, prepared by the former Comhairle na nOspideal. The Report recommended that the future development of safe, high quality neurosurgical services in Ireland would be best served by a two-pronged approach:

1. Increased capacity in Dublin and Cork;

2. Improved access to neurosurgical units, including transport and telemedicine facilities for referring hospitals.

The Report also identified a clear need for significant investment in neurosurgical services, and the planning and commissioning of such services on a national basis. Additional funding of €4m has been provided in 2007 to support the development of neurosciences, including neurosurgery services.

The HSE is committed to progressing the recommendations of the Report to ensure the development of neurosurgical services in Ireland in line with international best practice.