Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 is the only acute general hospital in Dublin that does not afford general practitioners direct access to routine chest x-rays, plain film lung x-rays and ultrasound; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17749/07]

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 issue 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.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her policy on general practitioner access to first-line investigations such as chest x-rays and ultrasound in public hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17763/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Primary Care Strategy aims to support and promote the health and well-being of the population by developing multi-disciplinary teams of professionals, including general practitioners, which enable the vast majority of people's health and social care needs to be met in their local community. I recognise that in order to support and facilitate this model of care, general practitioners need to have access to appropriate diagnostic services so that, as far as possible and as appropriate, the diagnosis and the management of illness can take place in the community rather than the hospital setting.

The Health Service Executive has, I understand, undertaken a number of measures to enhance access for GPs to x-ray and ultrasound services for patients. As the Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to provide more detailed information in this regard. My Department has therefore 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.