Vol. 504 No. 4
183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason it takes up to 20 working days for a reply to issue from the health boards under the Customer Service Action Plan 1998-1999 in view of advances in technology and computerised records; the plans, if any, he has to improve this poor efficiency rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11935/99]
The Department of Health and Children receives a large amount of correspondence from each of its customer groups every day. Very often the information can be provided by the appropriate division in the Department. Sometimes, however, the correspondence received raises issues that relate to a health board or other health agency. If this is the case we undertake to send it to that agency immediately.
In some of these cases, due to the investigative work required and the need to make follow-up enquiries with a number of parties, the length of time may be in the region of 20 working days or longer. In instances such as these the aim will be, where possible, to issue an interim reply giving the party concerned an indication of when a final reply can be expected.
