Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will have the Strategic Review of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Services, carried out by the Health Service Executive and completed in 2007, published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45588/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have identified the development of neurology services as a policy priority for some time. I allocated additional revenue funding of €7m to the HSE in 2006 and 2007 for the development of services in the area of neurosciences, which comprises neurology, neurophysiology and neurosurgery.

This investment has helped to increase substantially the number of approved consultant neurology posts. There are now 24 such posts, an increase of 10 since 2003. In addition, there are currently 7 approved consultant clinical neurophysiologist posts, an increase of 4 approved posts since 2003. The HSE has set aside extra revenue funding of €850,000 in 2009 to support the further development of neurosciences.

The HSE has undertaken a national review of Neurology Services to improve integration of services and optimise patient outcomes. It took particular account of likely future levels of demand and rapid technological advances in the area. The review was completed some time ago and submitted to the National Hospitals Office. Following consideration of the report, the HSE decided to seek an external expert opinion on the model of care proposed to ensure that the recommendations were properly aligned with the HSE Transformation Programme. The expert panel expects to conclude its work within the next three months after which time the HSE can proceed to the implementation phase and arrange for publication.