Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the assurances she will give that the Irish Osteoporosis Society will have sufficient funding and support from the Health Service Executive to survive in the long term and be in position to increase its staff beyond its current level of two employees. [10008/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the Health Act, 2004 provides the HSE with responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. As a Statutory body, the provision of these services, including the delivery of services by agreement with voluntary and community organisations such as the Irish Osteoporosis Society, is a matter for the Executive.

I am satisfied that the HSE recognises the valuable work undertaken by the Irish Osteoporosis Society and makes every effort to assist them in line with resources available. This is reflected in a practical way in the funding given to the IOS by the Executive in recent years. The question of any revised funding arrangements would be a matter, in the first instance, for the Executive in the light of its overall competing demands and through any new agreement with the Society on future service provision.

In the circumstances, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.