Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 10 December 2008, if she will furnish the up to date figures; the number in each year since 1999 to date in 2009 that were reported to the Garda and posted on the website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5773/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Departmental Expenditure.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has ever initiated an internal programme to ask staff their opinions on the way money could be saved within the health services; if there are plans to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5791/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Clearly, the current fiscal position demands the most careful control of public expenditure and I am strongly of the view that account needs to be taken of all opportunities for efficiencies. Within my Department, there is considerable focus on identifying opportunities to save money and this has been included in the annual business planning process which involves all staff. Within the wider health service, I am very conscious of the need to make savings where possible without impacting on service levels and I have consistently communicated this need to the HSE and other health agencies. As part of a multi-annual approach to value for money announced by me in the context of the Budget, a range of value for money measures has been outlined in the HSE Service Plan 2009.

Operational responsibility for the management of value for money and internal staff programmes are matters for the Health Service Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy on the specific matter raised.