Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 556: To ask the Minister for Health if he will launch a full inquiry into the complaints of sexual abuse of patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, County Louth, which were first logged in 1995, as sought by him in Dáil Éireann on 30 June 2009. [13632/12]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 557: To ask the Minister for Health if he will hold a public inquiry under the Commissions of Investigation Act in respect of cases of sexual abuse in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth. [13643/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together.

Early in 2011, I indicated that the issues raised by the case of Michael Shine, former Consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda would be the subject of an inquiry by an Oireachtas Committee. This was dependent on the powers that had been proposed under the 30th Amendment of the Constitution. As it was not possible to proceed as proposed I am giving consideration as to how best to deal with the issues involved in the Michael Shine case. My Department is currently exploring the options in this regard including the possibility of a Commission of Investigation under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, subject to necessary legal advice.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 558: To ask the Minister for Health the funding that will be made available in 2012 to Dignity 4 Patients, the support group for victims of sexual abuse in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth. [13644/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a National Lottery discretionary fund in place which provides once-off grants to community groups and organisations, providing a range of health related services. Dignity 4 Patients received lottery funding of €69,000 from my Department's 2011 allocation of National Lottery Funding towards the once-off cost of providing an office, a website, a helpline and office administration.

On-going funding for any service is a matter for the HSE and accordingly I previously asked Dignity 4 Patients to liaise with the HSE in this regard. I understand there has been frequent contact between the HSE and Dignity 4 Patients and as a result the HSE has agreed to provide funding to Dignity 4 Patients for their office expenses. I have now asked the HSE to engage further with Dignity 4 Patients to consider if any additional funding might possibly be provided by them to support activities that Dignity 4 Patients may be engaged in which are complimentary to services offered by the HSE, such as counselling services.