Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2007
221 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide extra funding, staff and resources to address the crisis in obstetrics where maternity hospitals are operating at levels that according to media reports may be putting patients at risk and where birth levels have increased from 49,000 in 1993, to 64,000 in 2006 and are expected to hit 68,000 in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23338/07]
View answerOperational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issues raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
