Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason wards have had to be closed and services curtailed at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin; if her attention has been drawn to the distress this is causing to many parents; the efforts being made to reverse this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20396/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will prevent the closure of wards in Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, to ensure that children will not have to wait for longer than heretofore for procedures and treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20126/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the proposed ward closures and bed decommissioning at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12; if this accurately reflects her intentions; if same is in line with her Department's policy; if this is contemplated arising from a shortfall in the budgetary provisions for her Department in 2009; if she has examined the degree to which facilities for sick children are expected to be curtailed on foot of such proposals; if her attention has further been drawn to the concern of the parents of sick children arising from diminution of the services currently available at Crumlin; if she will provide an unconditional undertaking that services at the hospital will not be interfered with in any way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20213/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 228 and 236 together.

The Health Service Executive is fully aware of the financial challenges being faced by Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and is involved in ongoing discussions with hospital management regarding its 2009 financial allocation and Service Plan. The priority is to ensure that services are maintained at an optimum level.

Each hospital funded by the HSE is required to deliver services within the financial allocation provided. The 2009 allocation to Our Lady's Children's Hospital is €139.6m. The allocation has increased by over €38m or 39% since 2004. In line with budgetary constraints across the system, the 2009 allocation is 3% below the 2008 allocation of €143.8m.

In the first three months of this year there were 2,745 treatments for children as in-patients and 3,841 treatments for children as day cases in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. This represents 244 more treatments for children than during the same period in 2008. There were also 21,252 attendances in the Out Patients' Department, an increase of 1041 over the same period last year.

The HSE has advised that, based on the financial performance for the first quarter of 2009, the hospital should achieve a break even position at year end. This assessment takes account of cost saving measures totalling €6.5m which have been agreed with the hospital, and which are to be implemented over the remainder of the year. Much of the focus of the discussions between hospital management and the HSE has been on ensuring that all areas of non-pay expenditure are critically examined and that costs are reduced where possible. It has also proven necessary to take measures to reduce activity, including the closure of a theatre and a ward from this month. However, the hospital has confirmed that it is committed to delivering on the full level of its service plan commitments for 2009.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of moving the breast clinic from South Infirmary Victoria Hospital to Cork University Hospital when it is providing safe and effective care at its current location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19593/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.