Dáil Éireann - Volume 640 - 31 October, 2007

Written Answers. - Health Services.

Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on introducing an appeals process for the Health Service [1275] Executive’s fosters maintenance allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26089/07]

  Deputy Brendan Smith: The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Office has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the date on which travel allowances were first agreed to be paid to home helps within the Health Service Executive; the amount of funding paid in relation to such allowances for each year for each area since that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26090/07]

Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the administrative system that operates the travel pay system for home helps in the Kildare and west Wicklow areas cannot operate a travel allowance system similar to all other areas that has such a mechanism for paying such a payment to personnel; when the matter will be rectified; the amount of arrears due for each year since the inception of the travel allowance payment for home helps to the home helps in the Kildare and west Wicklow areas; when her attention was drawn to the discrepancy that the home helps in the Kildare and west Wicklow areas are not on a par with home helps in the other areas of the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26091/07]

  Deputy Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 191 answered with Question No. 190.

Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in [1276] receipt of home help hours in the Kildare and west Wicklow areas for each year since 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26102/07]

  Deputy Máire Hoctor: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.