Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1309: To ask the Minister for Health the number of written Parliamentary Questions replied to from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2012; the number of these that were answered in full; the number that related to issues where details supplied were personal matters and where the reply was supplied directly to the Deputy; the number of other replies where it was indicted that the information requested would be sent directly to the Deputy concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18598/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Broadly speaking, Parliamentary Questions received by my Department can be divided into two categories. These are:

- questions which relate to the development of the overall health strategy, planning and policy development, drafting of legislation etc. and;

- questions which relate to operational matters such as services to named individuals, specific health service issues in local areas etc.

The vast majority of questions in the first category are answered by my Department without referral to the Health Service Executive or any other agency. In relation to the second category, the majority of questions are operational matters which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. These questions are referred by my Department to the Executive for direct reply to Deputies. The Executive is very conscious of the need to reply promptly to Deputies Questions and there is regular liaison between my Department and the Executive in this regard.

Parliamentary Questions relating to HSE operational issues of a national / regional scale or importance as well as high profile individual issues are answered by myself or the relevant Minister of State instead of being referred to the HSE. Whenever possible these questions are answered on the relevant Dáil sitting day. Where this is not possible because the information is not readily available, a reply is issued as soon as possible thereafter.

Taking account of the above, the figures sought by the Deputy for the period concerned are as follows:

Total number of questions answered by my Department: 2,316

Total number of questions answered in full without referral to any agency: 774

Total number of questions referred to the HSE or other agencies for direct reply to Deputies: 1,330

Total number of questions concerning national/regional issues: 212