Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health when the step-down beds and services for senior citizens will be made available at St. Joseph's Hospital, Raheny, Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15990/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Health if the free diabetic eye check provided by the Health Service Executive is being administered equitably; if he will investigate if the procedure followed (details supplied) is correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15993/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) was requested by the HSE National Directorate of Clinical Strategy and Programmes in 2011 to commence the planning and development of a national diabetic retinopathy screening programme. The NCSS has experience in developing population health based screening programmes and manages the BreastCheck and CervicalCheck programmes. The screening model proposed by the NCSS and agreed with the HSE National Directorate of Clinical Strategy and Programmes is one that is largely contract based and reliant on third party service providers.

The HSE's National Service Plan 2012 commits to continuing the implementation of the national diabetic retinopathy screening programme and will link in the "Red House" scheme, as the HSE has already proposed. I have asked the NCSS to provide my Department with commencement dates as soon as possible and I remain confident in the HSE's commitment to this programme.