Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive in relation to its plans for cuts in hospital services in the north east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9286/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The overriding aim of the North East Transformation Programme is to improve safety and achieve better standards of care for patients in that region.

I fully support this objective and I have had many discussions with the HSE about the importance of progressing implementation of this change programme.

The HSE also has an obligation to deliver services within its approved funding allocation each year. Discussions about budget allocations and associated service activity levels have been ongoing in recent weeks throughout the different regions of the HSE. This is an entirely normal and necessary part of the HSE's service planning and financial management process.

The need to get better value — in terms of effective services for patients — from the substantial core resources provided to the health services was one of the key objectives underpinning the health reform programme. We can not continue to simply provide "more of the same". The progressive reconfiguration of services in the North East within available resources in a way which demonstrably delivers safer and more effective services for people in that region will continue to have my full support.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the strategic Review of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9417/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Strategic Review of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Services will be published; if it included recommendations for a national rehabilitation strategy and the development of stroke services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9324/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 103 together.

A Strategic Review of Neurology services in Ireland has been undertaken by the Health Service Executive. The Review was overseen by a multidisciplinary Steering Group whose aim was to identify the current level of service provision and future requirements for neurology and neurophysiology services in Ireland. The specific objectives were to:

1. Describe the epidemiology of neurological conditions in Ireland.

2. Evaluate current neurology services, including paediatrics and neurophysiology.

3. Review the evidence in relation to models of service delivery and make a recommendation on the preferred model for the Irish health system.

4. Identify requirements for the development of neurology and neurophysiology services nationally and prioritise service requirements.

5. Report to the Director of the National Hospitals Office.

The HSE has advised my Department that work on the review has recently been completed and that the final draft report has been submitted to the Director of the National Hospitals Office for consideration.