277 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans, in order to reduce inappropriate accident and emergency admissions and to ensure that a patients dignity is upheld in the last few hours of their life, to increase palliative care beds or services in the Health Service Executive north east; and the location where she will locate theses beds and services. [8476/07]

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an additional €5 million has been provided for palliative care nationally in 2007. The Health Service Executive will work with the newly established Development Committees in each HSE region to determine priorities and allocations throughout the country.

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 issues 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.