Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Boards Executive.

Bernard Allen

Question:

396 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide the mission statement of the new Health Boards Executive; the policy and purposes of same; and if this is another layer of bureaucracy in the health services. [8871/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The mission of the Health Boards Executive, HeBE, is to pursue the strategic development of a modern, equitable, high-quality and person-centred health service by enabling the chief executive officers of the health boards, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and area boards, together with their staff and provider agencies, to work jointly to achieve significant and measurable service improvements and value for money.

HeBE was established by ministerial order on 13 of February 2002 in advance of the target date set in the health strategy. As it is a new organisation, policy development will take some time and will be informed by the implementation of the health strategy and the audit of the health services to be conducted shortly. Its primary purpose is to enable conjoint working of the chief executive officers of the health boards, ERHA and area health boards on health and personal social service issues in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the administration and delivery of services. HeBE will provide a mechanism for co-operation between two or more boards and on a national basis for initiatives in the modernisation of the health strategy. It will undertake executive functions which will be devolved from the Department of Health and Children.

There is now a great awareness of the need for health agencies to work together in one integrated health system for the benefit of the individual. HeBE provides one mechanism for this to be achieved. Closer formal co-operation between the boards allows better planning, pooling of resources and economies of scale. I can assure Deputy Allen that far from being a layer of bureaucracy in the health services, HeBE, as a complementary body to the health boards, will enable closer co-operation and add value to the work of individual boards. It will play an important role in modernising our health service and in demonstrating value for money from the very significant investment that continues to be made in the development of our health and personal social services.