I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 150, inclusive, together.
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 health services for patients with cystic fibrosis.
The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland commissioned Dr. Ronnie Pollock to review the existing hospital services for people with cystic fibrosis in the context of accepted international standards. Dr. Pollock's report, which was officially launched earlier this year, provides an assessment of need for current and future cystic fibrosis patients and makes a number of recommendations with regard to the numbers and categories of staff appropriate for a modern, multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis service. The report concludes that cystic fibrosis care should be provided in fewer units of a more significant size to ensure viable staffing levels can be maintained and that staff have a sufficient workload to enable them to maintain their skills level.
Following the publication of the Pollock report, the Health Service Executive met with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and agreed to the latter's request to establish a working group to consider the report's recommendations. The group, which is multidisciplinary in its composition, is chaired by the HSE. The group held its first meeting in early April and I understand it hopes to complete its work over the next few months.
My Department is also advised that, in parallel with the work of the group, the Health Service Executive is pursuing with St. Vincent's Hospital, which is designated as the national adult cystic fibrosis centre, proposals for improvement to the physical infrastructure of the centre. Finally, I met in recent weeks with representatives of the Irish Donor Network, including the chief executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland, to discuss issues relating to organ transplantation services.