453 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will seek a response from the Eastern Regional Health Authority as to the reason no protocol or policy appears to exist for patients who require nursing home places but who are admitted to a hospital which is not in their immediate health board area; if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if this case can be reviewed by both health boards; and his views on the adequacy of the Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act, 1999, in view of this type of case. [9520/02]

Responsibility for the provision of health services in Dublin rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

My Department has therefore asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to her directly.