Vol. 533 No. 2
108 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will name the steering group appointed to develop a new health strategy; the terms of reference of the group; and if the group has a deadline by which it is to report back to him. [8479/01]
The membership of the national steering group is as follows:
Mr. Michael Kelly, (Chairperson) Secretary General (Department of Health and Children); Mr. Tom Mooney, Deputy Secretary (Department of Health and Children); Dr. Jim Kiely, Chief Medical Officer (Department of Health and Children); Mr. Donal Devitt, Assistant Secretary (Department of Health and Children); Mr. Tony Enright, Assistant Secretary (Department of Health and Children); Mr. Paul Barron, Assistant Secretary (Department of Health and Children); Mr. Dermot Smyth, Acting Assistant Secretary (Department of Health and Children); Mr. Frank Ahern, Director (Department of Health and Children); Ms. Frances Spillane, Director (Department of Health and Children); Ms. Deirdre Gillane, Advisor to Minister Martin; Mr. Denis Doherty, chief executive officer Midland Health Board; Mr. Pat Harvey, chief executive officer North Western Health Board; Dr. Sheelah Ryan, chief executive officer Western Health Board; Mr. Michael Lyons, chief executive officer East Coast Area Health Board; Mr. Donal O'Shea Regional chief executive officer, ERHA; Mr. Peter MacDonagh Adviser to the Taoiseach.
The terms of reference for the group are: (1) to provide overall leadership in the production of a new health strategy for improved health status and the development, reform and modernisation of the health and personal social services over the next five to seven years; (2) to approve key themes and a framework for the strategy; (3) to provide guidance to the team in relation to the consultation process as required: for example, commissioning of new research etc., and (4) to approve the content of the new health strategy prior to its submission to the Minister.
The new national health strategy is planned for completion by mid-year.
