Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reporting system and management within the Health Service Executive; the manner in which management is structured; if it is organised by region, area of responsibility or role; the way in which the general practitioner service, the out-patient service, community nursing and hospitals are managed together; if an organisational chart is available; and if so, if one can be provided. [6814/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the terms of the Health Act 2004, the Board of the Health Service Executive is the governing body of the HSE with authority to perform the statutory functions of the HSE. The members of the Board are appointed by the Minister.

In general terms, the Board of the HSE is empowered to appoint the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, such CEO being recruited under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Board may delegate such functions of the Executive as the Board sees fit to the CEO. The CEO also becomes a member of the Board on appointment as CEO by virtue of being CEO.

The CEO is responsible to the Board of the HSE for the performance of his functions and the implementation of the Boards policies. The CEO is charged with the carrying on, the managing and the controlling of the administration and business of the HSE, and the performance of such other functions as are assigned to him by the Health Act or other statute, or as may be delegated to him by the Board under Section 18 of the 2004 Act.

The Act empowers the CEO to delegate his functions to specified employees of the HSE acting under the general direction and control of the CEO, and in compliance with such directions, limitations and guidelines as are specified by the CEO. The Act authorises further sub delegation by those specified employees to other specified employees, under the authorisation of the CEO.

In practical terms, the CEO is served by a management team of nine National Directors who each head a specific management function e.g. the National Hospitals Office, Primary Community & Continuing Care, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Planning, Population Health etc.

Each National Director is served in turn by their own management team of Assistant National Directors who each typically function in relation to a particular function or alternatively in relation to a geographical region of service provision, as appropriate. The National Hospitals Office is served by eight regionally based hospital networks.

Section 6 of the Health Act, 2004 states that the Health Service Executive is a corporate body. In view of this, the precise manner in which the general practitioners service, the out-patient service, community nursing and hospitals are managed together including the provision of an organisational chart, is a matter for the HSE itself. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to respond directly to the Deputy.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the percentage the €2 million allocated in November 2006 for cystic fibrosis specific medical staff positions that has been spent; the number of additional roles this funding represented; and the number of these additional roles that have been filled. [6815/08]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of the 57 new positions identified and approved for appointment in 2006 for cystic fibrosis that have been appointed, approved, and are in situ to date. [6816/08]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the €4.78 million allocated in November 2005 for cystic fibrosis specific medical staff positions that has been spent; the number of additional roles this funding represents; and the number of these additional roles that have been filled. [6826/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 318 and 327 together.

In 2006 and 2007 additional revenue funding of €6.78m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop cystic fibrosis services. The most recent report from the HSE advises that, arising from the €4.78 additional revenue funding for 2006, 44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date across a number of hospitals, including St Vincent's, Beaumont, Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, Cork University Hospital, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the €2m additional revenue funding for 2007 will facilitate the recruitment of 23.5 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis services. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally. My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly on the specific operational issues raised in the Deputy's questions.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the processes involved in applying for, providing the paperwork for, visiting the doctor for, and finally receiving a flutter device for parents of cystic fibrosis patients; the timeline involved; the estimated expenditure for each application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6817/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive 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.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of donor coordinators here; if Cystic Fibrosis Ireland's offer to pay €150,000 for donor coordinators has been considered; and if a decision has been made on the matter. [6818/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on the specific issues raised.

The Deputy may wish to note that my Department asked the HSE to undertake a review and analysis of any factors that impact on organ procurement and retrieval rates at individual hospitals. The review involves a national audit of potential organ donors which commenced last September in 35 acute hospitals with Intensive Care Units. The audit will seek to identify any obstacles to donation and any measures which may be required to increase the level of donation and retrieval of organs at individual hospitals.