John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 8 October 2009, when a reply will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37655/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 8 October 2009, when a reply will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37656/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 8 October 2009, when will a reply be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37657/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 8 October 2009, when will a reply be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37658/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 180, inclusive, together. As indicated in my previous replies, the Deputy's questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. My Department has been informed that the Executive is compiling the information requested and expect to be in a position to reply shortly.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 471 of 6 October 2009, when will a reply be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37659/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 6 October 2009, when will a reply be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37660/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 474 of 6 October 2009, when will a reply be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37661/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 6 October 2009, when will a reply be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37662/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 181 to 184, inclusive, together. As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the long delays experienced in getting responses to parliamentary questions from the Health Service Executive; her plans to address these problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37663/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Responding to the information needs of the Oireachtas and the public is a priority for my Department and is a regular agenda item at meetings between myself and the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive. The operation of the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE (PAD) allows for the centralised receipt, assignment and tracking of Parliamentary Questions within the HSE's extensive network of operations. More generally, PAD monitors overall performance in relation to the timely issue of replies and provides a central contact for all requests from Oireachtas members for information relating to matters within the statutory remit of the executive. It reports on a regular basis to the chief executive officer and his management team.

In 2008, a timeframe of 15 working days for replies was introduced for Parliamentary Questions referred to the executive for direct reply. The most recent statistics provided to my Department by the executive show that in the period from January to October 6 2009, 62% of questions referred to the Executive were answered within the 15 day timeframe. A further 4% were answered within 20 days. 71% of referred questions were answered within 30 days. I will continue to stress the importance of meeting the 15 day timeframe at my regular meetings with the CEO of the HSE.