Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of single bed rooms available to patients as a percentage of the total beds in acute hospitals; the number of single bed rooms available to patients as a percentage of the total beds available in community hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10785/08]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of single bed rooms in acute and community hospitals as a percentage of the total beds available in the UK and any other EU country that such statistics are available for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10786/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 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.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that all community hospitals caring for the elderly meet current fire safety standards; if her attention has been drawn to the gross overcrowding in some such institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10787/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the age profile of older person in-patient facilities spans from the mid 1800s to the present day. The Health Service Executive has advised me that existing facilities are under continual review, and a programme of fire safety improvements has been on-going for many years. The HSE has further advised that all such facilities are regularly inspected for Fire Safety purposes. Fire safety training and evacuation exercises are part of the on-going fire safety provisions, and all have fire safety arrangements in place.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans in train to expand the number of beds at the Galway hospice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10788/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular 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.