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 speech and language services. Accordingly, my Department has again requested the chief officer of Health Service Executive's mid-western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.