James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will arrange for the Health Service Executive to collect national data on waiting times for hospice services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29968/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Health Service Executive national action plan for palliative care services 2009 to 2013, which was recently submitted to her Department, will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29969/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive was asked to prioritise palliative care service developments in the context of a framework over the next five years. A 'Palliative Care Services Medium Term Framework' has recently been submitted to the Department by the HSE. This document details the required actions and initiatives necessary to address the gaps in palliative care service provision, against the recommendations set out in the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care 2001. The Department has been considering the Framework and has been in discussion with the HSE in this regard and I now understand that the HSE intends to publish the Framework within the next month.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the programme For Government commitment to allow orthodontic cases to be referred to the National Treatment Purchase Funds by creating an orthodontic fund to treat persons who have been waiting longest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29970/09]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the programme for Government commitment to ensure that any child under five waiting more than three months for occupational or speech and language therapy, will be able to access these services automatically through the National Treatment Purchase fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29971/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund currently arranges hospital-based treatment and, in some cases, diagnostic procedures for public patients. Therefore the type of services to which the Deputy refers do not fall within the remit of the Fund at present.