Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2005

Thursday, 3 February 2005

Questions (96, 97, 98)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

94 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if assessments have been made on the community welfare officer’s customer care procedures employed by the various health authorities to assess discretionary payments; if her attention has been drawn to the numerous complaints regarding some individual CWOs for being rude, offensive, obstructionist and dismissive; and the action she will take to ensure that the great work and reputation for patience and good manners of the vast majority of CWOs is not tainted by the few. [3318/05]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the customer care procedures of community welfare officers. Accordingly, my Department has requested the acting national director of human resources at the HSE to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

95 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10. [3319/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of health services to persons residing in Dublin. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

96 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons currently in receipt of methadone maintenance treatment in various centres in the State; the procedures involved in getting on methadone; the number of persons on the waiting list for methadone and the waiting time per centre; and the length of time persons currently wait for treatment on the waiting list or lists. [3320/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for drug treatment services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the executive to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.