Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not receiving the physiotherapy treatment that was recommended for them in view of the fact that they had surgery seven years ago but have been confined to a wheelchair for 14 to 15 hours per day for the past four years due to a lack of physiotherapy. [32978/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department will continue to fund a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32981/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, 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 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive, therefore, 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.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32985/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have identified the need to improve services for persons with cystic fibrosis as a priority in the Estimates process over recent years. Since 2006, additional revenue funding of €6.78m has been allocated to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop services for patients with cystic fibrosis. I asked the HSE to place a particular focus on the development of services at St. Vincent's Hospital, the National Adult Tertiary Centre for the treatment of persons with cystic fibrosis, where concerns had been raised regarding the need to improve facilities.

A number of capital projects have been completed at the hospital and further developments are in progress. A new ward block is being planned at St. Vincent's which will include 120 replacement beds in single en-suite accommodation. The new facility will accommodate cystic fibrosis patients and will include appropriate isolation facilities. Recent refurbishment of accommodation has provided eight single en-suite rooms for patients with cystic fibrosis. 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.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32986/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, it is custom and practice for a number of organisations, including those in the disability sector, to forward pre-budget submissions to the relevant Ministers and their Departments in the run up to the Budget. Such submissions are considered as part of the discussions on the Estimates and Budget each year. While it is not appropriate to comment further on the Disability Federation of Ireland's pre-budget submission, I would point out that this year's Budget is being framed against the background of challenging economic circumstances.

In relation to health services for people with a disability, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the significant resources which have been expended on disability services in 2008. The Multi Annual Investment Programme for Disability Services makes provision for the development of additional residential, respite places and day care places each year between 2006 and 2009 for people with Intellectual Disability and Autism and additional residential care and home support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. In the 2008 Budget, €50m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fund a range of additional services under the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for Disability.

Although the commencement of the planned developments in disability services this year had been delayed due to a financial review, I am pleased to inform you that the Executive has informed the Department of Health and Children that it is now in the process of rolling out the planned developments. The HSE has indicated that due to the delayed start to some of these developments it expects to spend €33m of the €50m by the end of 2008. The resulting €17m time related savings were included in this Department's budgetary consolidation measures announced to the House in July 2008. It is not appropriate for me or my Department to comment on the resources that will be allocated in 2009, prior to the announcement of the Budget 2009 package.