Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Health if he will detail the meetings he has held with Health Service Executive personnel regarding hospital service configurations. [16709/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Since becoming the Minister for Health I have met with the HSE on over thirty separate occasions to discuss the various aspects of the health services including the acute hospital transformation. I have instructed the HSE not to withdraw any services from acute hospitals unless and until I receive a full briefing on the details of what is proposed, the alternative arrangements to be put in place, and the overall implications for patients. I can confirm that a number of the meetings with the HSE focused on the reorganisation of hospital services; however this topic would also have been discussed in the context of primary, community care and the development of the clinical programmes.

As Minister for Health, I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU will work closely with the HSE, building on initiatives already underway. I anticipate that there will be ongoing contact between myself and the HSE in order to progress this initiative as expediently and swiftly as possible.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health if he has been supplied by the Taoiseach with a list of hospital services which should be kept open. [16710/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have received no such list from the Taoiseach, nor am I aware of the existence of any such list.