Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the winter initiative scheme has been withdrawn from Roscommon County Hospital; the further reason an enhanced scheme was available to patients being discharged from University College Hospital Galway when compared with Roscommon County Hospital and that there was no additional allocation of resources during the winter period for home help or primary care packages in County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12540/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE's Winter Initiative is specifically aimed at addressing the particular challenges to the Health System during the Winter Months and a range of initiatives developed across the system is focusing on internal processes within hospitals and the ability of both hospitals and community to provide integrated services to enable appropriate placing of patients in hospitals and community settings.

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.