Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements in place between the Mater Hospital and Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, for lung transplants for cystic fibrosis patients; the number of cystic fibrosis patients who have received transplants in the Mater to date; the number of transplants carried out on Irish cystic fibrosis patients in Newcastle in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3321/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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An agreement is in place with the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, to undertake lung transplants on Irish patients. The agreement was put in place in 1999 and my Department is advised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that the arrangement will continue in 2008 and until such time as the Irish system is fully self-sufficient. The arrangement supplements the National Lung Transplant Programme at the Mater Hospital. The programme delivers services to patients with a variety of conditions including Cystic Fibrosis.

As operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the HSE my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on the additional issues raised.