Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the person to whom he has assigned responsibility for coordinating policy on older persons. [5808/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I am pleased to confirm that I have now been assigned responsibility for older people's issues. My priorities will be to complete and implement the National Positive Ageing Strategy and to drive the Government's agenda to enable people as they grow older to maintain and improve their physical, social and mental well-being and to live in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

I would like to reassure the Deputy that policy for older people in Ireland is a priority for this Government. While policy in relation to health services is a matter for the Minister for Health, positive, active, healthy ageing must not be considered to be solely a health issue. Given the wide range of issues which directly impact on the lives of older people and on the process of ageing, it is a matter for every Minister to address issues relevant to older people and respond accordingly.

As the deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government commits us to complete and implement the National Positive Ageing Strategy. Work on preparing and developing the Strategy, which will establish the strategic framework for future policies, programmes and services for older people in Ireland, is continuing in my Department. It is envisaged that the Strategy will set out a common framework for the development of operational plans by Government Departments clearly setting out their objectives relating to older people, as well as the development of ongoing mechanisms designed to monitor progress and identify challenges facing older people in the future. The development of the Strategy is being assisted by a Cross-Departmental Group (CDG), comprised of officials from 11 Government Departments, the Central Statistics Office and An Garda Siochana, and is chaired by the Director of the Office for Older People.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his priorities in his first 100 days in office. [7519/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The areas that I have identified as requiring priority attention are as follows:

establishment of a Special Delivery Unit based on the successful Northern Ireland model to assist in reducing waiting times for admissions from Emergency Departments, elective admissions and out-patient appointments;

publication of a detailed plan to ensure that our hospitals can cope with the increased demand for Emergency Department services next winter;

changing the membership of the Board of the HSE;

introduce a cervical cancer vaccination catch up programme for all girls in secondary school to begin in September 2011; and

initiate discussions with stakeholders on the Government's reform programme.