Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2005
103 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a personal assistant will be assigned for 26 hours to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18758/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 personal assistance services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the mid-western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.
104 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the poor quality of replies being issued by the Health Service Executive in response to parliamentary questions; the unacceptable length of time it takes for the HSE to respond; if there is a tight and specified timeframe within which replies should be given by way of regulation or legislation; if all replies will be comprehensive and deal with the information requested without fudge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18759/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the establishment of the Health Service Executive, the chief officers, that is, the former health board CEOs, in each of its administrative areas have continued to deal with parliamentary questions in accordance with the arrangements which previously operated under the health boards. This arrangement was calculated to avoid any erosion in the accountability, as regards the timeliness or quality of replies, arising under the parliamentary question system since the health boards were abolished.
The executive recently established a parliamentary affairs division to act as a central contact for all Oireachtas requests relating to matters within its statutory remit. A key function of the division is to monitor, throughout the executive's national directorates and administrative areas, the timeliness of replies and to follow-up immediately where a reply has not issued within 20 working days of receipt of the referral.
It is my view, shared by the executive, that it should endeavour to give all available information and possible assistance to Oireachtas members as circumstances may permit at the time of reply. I recognise that the subject matter of questions can differ greatly in their detail and complexity. Also, it may not always be possible for a public body to give all information sought or a definitive reply within a particular time. The guiding principle, however, must be to provide the maximum assistance possible. This is an area which merits ongoing attention between my Department and the executive. In that regard, the establishment of the new division will enable the executive to centrally monitor, and be held accountable for, the service provided to Oireachtas members. My Department is currently working with the executive on the finalisation and early implementation of arrangements to further enhance the capabilities of the executive to provide an information service to Oireachtas members.
I am keen to ensure that the executive provides a high quality service to members of the Oireachtas and I will shortly be making regulations under section 79 of the Act regarding the conduct by the executive of its dealings with members of either House of the Oireachtas.
