Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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580. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 525 of 14 January 2015 and subsequent correspondence (details supplied) detailing the absence of a lack of reply from the Health Service Executive concerning the treatment of a person, his views on the procedure of referring parliamentary questions to the executive for direct reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11266/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health I am accountable to the Oireachtas for the health services but it is appropriate that the Health Service Executive answer directly questions that relate to day - to - day operational matters. I can assure the Deputy that I, and the HSE are committed to ensuring comprehensive, accurate and timely responses to parliamentary questions. The HSE currently has a commitment in its service plan to answer 75% of questions referred to it within 15 working days. The Deputy will be aware that, since taking office, I have introduced a practice whereby Deputies who have not received a response from the HSE within 15 days can contact my private office and the matter will be followed up.

In relation to the individual query raised by the Deputy, I am assured by the HSE that a reply will issue shortly.