Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is proposing to provide the necessary resources to create a national reference laboratory to identify types of clostridium difficile in health facilities. [16087/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. As such it is for the HSE to determine priorities and decide how these funds are used to deliver the best and most efficient and safe public health service. However, I have been informed by the HSE that upcoming national guidance on clostridium difficile is addressing the question of such a reference laboratory.