Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to reduce the instances of TB in the Cork area and review the TB services that currently exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32026/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will outline in tabular form the number of persons on a waiting list for the BCG vaccine in the Cork region for each month in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the way this compares with such waiting lists in other parts of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32130/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 598: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons on the waiting list for the BCG vaccine in each Health Service Executive region and her plans to reduce these waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32131/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department has ever investigated the connection between the lack of a BCG vaccine for newborn babies in Cork and the ongoing above average rate of TB cases in Cork; if this will now be investigated in view of the outbreak of TB in a primary school in 2010 and the outbreak in two creches in Cork in 2007-2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32132/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of TB cases in each county here each year between 2005 and 2010 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32133/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the system of providing the BCG vaccine in Cork hospitals; if babies born in Cork hospitals are now given or their parents are offered the BCG vaccine; the circumstances in which these babies would not be given the BCG vaccine; the options open to parents whose baby did not receive the BCG vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32134/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the years the BCG vaccine was not available to every child born in Cork Hospitals; the reason this decision was made; the number of children born in the Cork region in these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32135/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff assigned to carrying out BCG and MANS2 testing in the Health Service Executive South and the staffing representation per head of population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32863/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 680: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding to BCG and MANS2 immunisation in the Health Service Executive South including the number of applicants and appointment waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32864/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 583, 597 to 602, inclusive, 679 and 680 together.

I am very concerned about the recent outbreak of TB in the HSE South area. In that case, a HSE Outbreak Control team was established to manage the situation in accordance with the guidance report of the National TB Advisory Committee. Cases of active and latent TB found have been referred for appropriate treatment and follow up care. All involved with the school have been reassured that (i) the children with active TB are on treatment and are not currently infectious (ii) children or staff with latent TB infection are not infectious and (iii) other children, or staff, are not at risk from contact with either the cases of active TB or of latent TB.

In order to assess the position fully, the Chief Medical Officer of my Department immediately requested the HSE to provide clarification and information regarding the routine administration of BCG in all regions of the country, for them to identify areas where this is not the case and specify what arrangements are being made to deliver these services and a timescale for implementation. The HSE has also been requested to plan for the undertaking of an on-going audit of the delivery of BCG/TB services throughout the country. The service issues in the questions raised by the Deputies with regard to numbers of staff involved in BCG and Mantoux testing, clinical provision and the requested tabular data have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.