Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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365. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding improvements in the access for women who were clients of a person (details supplied) to alternative home birthing arrangements, in view of the delay in having these matters processed; and in that context, if he will intervene in order to request that the person's indemnity would be temporarily reinstated until after the Health Service Executive investigations, as had previously been the case in other instances especially in view of the detrimental impact that the removal of this indemnity has had on the over 20 women directly involved [45186/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the HSE that there were 13 mothers-to-be contracted for homebirths with the community midwife at the time of her suspension.

The current position is that 7 of these mothers have delivered their babies. A further 5 mothers-to-be have expected delivery dates between now and March 2015. The 13th mother's application for a home birth could not be approved as she did not meet the criteria.

My role as Minster for Health primarily relates to policy decisions, legislation, implementing the programme for Government, securing an overall budget for the health service and accounting for it to the Oireachtas. The particular case referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter and it is appropriate that is should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.