John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30024/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Tá rún daingean ag mo Roinn a chinntiú gur féidir freastal a mhéad is féidir ar chustaiméirí ar mian leo a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ba é 395 dhuine an líon iomlán daoine a bhí ag obair sa Roinn ag deireadh mhí Mheán Fómhair 2016. Den líon sin, tá seachtar ball foirne, nó beagnach 2%, in ann a gcuid dualgas a chur i gcrích sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla araon. Tugtar freagra sa Ghaeilge ar an gcomhfhreagras ar fad a sheoltar don Roinn sa Ghaeilge agus cuirtear aon cheisteanna teileafóin ar aghaidh chuig duine de na baill foirne atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge.

Ní chuirtear aon cheanglas sa reachtaíocht ar an Roinn sprioc a leagan síos maidir leis an líon ball foirne ar cheart dóibh bheith in ann feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge. Mar sin féin, luaitear sa Scéim Teanga 2015-2018 ón Roinn Sláinte go sainaithneoidh an Roinn aon phoist dá bhfuil inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge ina riachtanas. Shainaithin an Roinn aon phost den sórt sin agus ceapadh ball foirne chuig an ról sin ina dhiaidh sin.

Is é beartas na Roinne leibhéal agus cáilíocht reatha na seirbhíse trí mheán na Gaeilge a choinneáil ar bun.