Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); to note that despite Parliamentary Question response No. 3490 of 21 January 2024, referral has been received by the hospital on 12 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5585/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, and regarding the response issued by the HSE to PQ 3490/24 theses are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to re examine the matter in light of the referral details provided in the Deputy’s question and respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.