Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that due to Health Service Executive cutbacks, a pool care assistant will not be available in the afternoons in Cork University Hospital with the result that 30 patients will be denied hydrotherapy each week thus endangering their recovery; if she will confirm that the amount of money required to provide a pool care assistant in the afternoons is €150; the action she proposes to rectify the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10068/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Over 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.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if and when a full-time a phototherapy nurse will be provided in the dermatology unit at University Hospital Galway in view of the fact that the position is currently filled on a part-time basis but this service requires the assistance of a full-time nurse to cater for the growing waiting list of patients awaiting this important treatment. [10071/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004. It is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its 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 directly to the Deputy.