Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the role she or the Health Service Executive has in mind for the local health centres in the overall delivery of the health services with particular reference to providing a wider range of services at local level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6524/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others.

It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of new Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

The provision of the appropriate infrastructure for the effective functioning of the Primary Care Teams is being considered by the HSE, having regard to a number of factors. These include the type and configuration of the services involved, the mixed public/private nature of our health system, the suitability of existing infrastructure and the capital requirements of the health services generally over the coming years.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way policy in the delivery of health services is being determined; if the Health Service Executive, her Department or other bodies or agencies are contributors in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6525/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As part of the ongoing roll out of the Health Reform Programme, my Department has divested itself of involvement in the operational delivery of health and personal social services. It is now responsible for overall organisational, legislative, policy and financial accountability for the health sector. The Health Service Executive (HSE) was established in January, 2005 and is responsible for the management and delivery of health and personal social services.

Policy in the delivery of health services has been determined by Government as the development of health services in all regions of the country, capable of providing safe, high-quality services that achieve the best possible outcomes for patients in primary care settings or when accessing a hospital service. My Department has developed a broad range of strategy documents and associated policies to guide it in its work.

The Health Reform Programme comprehends Quality and Fairness — The National Health Strategy, The Primary Care Strategy as well as the Prospectus, Brennan and Hanly reports. These reports are guiding the future of the health service in that they lay out the overall direction for the major changes in the health services and how they should be addressed and delivered. These reports culminated in the enactment of the Health Act, 2004, which abolished the health boards and established the HSE in January, 2005, as a mechanism for unitary service delivery in the area of health and personal social services.

Under the Health Act, 2004, a core responsibility of the Department is that of holding the HSE to account in relation to its financial performance and performance of service delivery, as well as the effective implementation of Government policies. A number of Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs) have also been established by the HSE and are located within its organisational structure in order to provide strategic leadership and expertise in the development and interpretation of national policy, strategies and service design in the delivery of health and personal social services. The EAG's are made up of a wide range of health professionals and will verify compliance with policy and legislation, monitor appropriate resource utilisation and ensure national consistency in implementation and service delivery.

Another contributor to the way in which policy in the delivery of health services is being determined will be the Health Information Quality Assurance body (HIQA). The Health Bill 2006, published in December, 2006 and currently before the Oireachtas, will establish HIQA and the Social Service Inspectorate on a statutory basis. HIQA will provide an independent review of quality and performance, and its analysis will inform policy development within the Department. It will also undertake health technology assessments and will evaluate information on health and social services and the health and welfare of the population. HIQA will advise the Minister and the HSE on deficiencies identified.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the full extent of the bed complement and range of facilities or services utilised or proposed at Naas General Hospital; when she expects the full complement to be delivered and operational; if, in view of bed shortages experienced here, it might be advisable to increase the bed complement at Naas and incorporate same in the remaining stages of the developing plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6527/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the long delay in waiting for orthodontic treatment for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal assessed by the orthodontist and placed on grade 5A; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6529/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the 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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason patients are not accompanied by a nurse in a Health Service Executive ambulance from nursing homes to attend clinics in HSE hospitals (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6648/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department will set up primary health care units in Charleville, Newmarket and Millstreet, County Cork; if so, the timeframe and the involvement of local doctors; and the funding arrangements in relation to same. [6654/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others.

It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of new Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

The HSE received an additional €10m in funding in 2006 to enable the establishment of up to 100 Primary Care Teams in development; a further €22m is being provided in 2007 to meet the full year costs of the 2006 developments and to enable a further 100 Primary Care Teams in development to be established.

The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009; and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. 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.