Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is a shortage of six physiotherapists at Tallaght Hospital; and the way this is affecting patients recovery and care. [5881/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is a shortage of social workers at Tallaght Hospital; and the way this situation is affecting patients and their families. [5882/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is a shortage of pharmacists in Tallaght Hospital; if this situation is increasing the workload on already overstretched nursing staff; and her views on the possible effect this is having on patient care. [5889/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 87 and 94 together.

Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the health care needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the 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 to the Deputy.