Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether her target to reduce the incidence of MRSA by 30% over five years is unambitious and disappointing in view of the fact that the Welsh managed to reduce MRSA by 60% over four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17735/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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According to the Health Infection Society's most recent survey of HCAIs, the prevalence of MRSA in Ireland is lower that the UK, including Wales. The HSE recently launched its 'Say No to Infection' campaign and as a result of this a new HCAI Governance Group was established. This Group will manage the HSE's approach to tackling HCAIs, including MRSA, and is responsible for reducing infection levels in Ireland's health care facilities.

Over the next three to five years the Group aims to reduce HCAIs by 20%, MRSA infections by 30% and antibiotic consumption by 20%. These targets are being achieved through the development of national and local level action plans to reduce the potential for spread of infections between persons in health care settings and to reduce and alter antibiotic use in Ireland.

The Group has already agreed a detailed Infection Control Action Plan for HCAI prevention and control including specific guidance for senior managers across all health care settings and local implementation teams to carry out the action plan. This Plan involves a number of targeted actions that will be delivered across the health care system. The various steps that need to be taken to tackle HCAIs are based on best practice and targets are based on evidence to be gathered from hospital and community health care settings.

The reduction of health care associated infection (HCAI), including MRSA, requires a coordinated response including national and local implementation of strategies to reduce HCAI and antimicrobial resistance, continuous quality improvement initiatives in health care, surveillance of HCAI and antimicrobial resistance, education and training of health care staff and the public in the principles of HCAI prevention and control, and adequate resources to operate HCAI control and antimicrobial stewardship. The HSE action plan incorporates all these important principles. I am confident that this will lead to a significant decrease in HCAI over a 5-year period similar to the reductions experienced in other health care systems.