I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 148 together.
A national audit of stroke services, funded by my Department, is currently being undertaken by the Irish Heart Foundation in association with the HSE. This audit is scheduled to be completed in early Autumn. In addition an audit of the implementation of the existing cardiovascular health strategy ‘Building Healthier Hearts' is being finalised by the HSE. While these audits will inform the development of cardiovascular and stroke services, my Department considers that there should be an over-arching policy framework to set out the broad policy guidelines for development of policy on cardiovascular disease including stroke. My Department is therefore in the process of establishing a national working group to draw up a such a policy framework.