Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Board Staff.

Paul McGrath

Question:

128 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the salary scale of the chief executive of the Health Boards Executive; the additional costs associated with the establishment of this body; and the total expected annual cost of this body. [18735/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Health Boards Executive, HeBE, was established on 1 March 2002 and the costs in 2002 cover the period from March to December. The overall costs associated with the Health Boards Executive are funded through the participating boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Annual costs are estimated to be €2 million in total. This includes the director salary of €112,000, which is set at a rate equivalent to that of a chief executive officer of a small health board, and a range of HeBE projects. The cost of establishing the body was €310,000 approximately. The establishment of the Health Boards Executive will enable the health boards to work together on a range of activities which will produce considerable efficiencies and value for money throughout the system.