Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Health the protocols in place since March 2011 to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23502/15]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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611. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within his Department; the steps he has taken since March 2011 to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23518/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 611 together.

The Department receives around 8,000 parliamentary questions annually, it processes more than any other Department.

The Department commits considerable ongoing attention and effort to the efficient discharge of responsibilities in this important area. The Parliamentary Affairs Unit ensures that the information requirements of Oireachtas members are properly addressed, including through monitoring of the progress of drafting of replies, the identification of potential issues and follow up to ensure mitigating actions are taken. The Unit provides ongoing training for staff involved in the preparation of replies, including the maintenance of an updated guide for staff setting out procedures and timeframes for responding to parliamentary questions. The Unit also ensures close co-operation with the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE on Ministerial replies and close monitoring of the 15 working day commitment for responses to directly referred PQs. Finally, each Unit in the Department has appointed parliamentary question coordinators to ensure that all questions are answered in a timely manner.

More recently I have advised Deputies to contact my private office should a response from the HSE not be forthcoming within the 15 working day allotted timeframe.