Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Dental Service.

Liz McManus

Question:

396 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans regarding the future of the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board; his plans in regard to the staff; the way in which he envisages the work done by the board will continue; the timeframe in which; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18464/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The Deputy will be aware that the recently published health service reform programme draws on analysis made by Prospectus strategy consultants in the audit of structures and functions in the health system. In looking at the range of agencies operating in the sector, the consultants found that complex and fragmented structures were an obstacle to achieving improvements, that there was scope for the rationalisation of certain agencies and that a lack of standardisation and co-ordination was evident across the system. The consolidated structure recommended by the consultants forms the basis of the health reform programme. The reorganisation of the system provides the opportunity to mainstream a number of agencies.

The Prospectus report commented on the extent to which the functions of the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board overlapped with those of other agencies. The report also commented on the need to bring greater coherence to human resource management and, in particular, to develop an integrated workforce planning function in this area. In that context, the report recommended that the monitoring and approval of specialist postgraduate medical and dental posts in accordance with agreed standards, together with the funding for continuing postgraduate medical and dental education, should transfer to the health services executive when established. It also recommended that the remaining functions of the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board should move to the relevant organisations – the Medical Council or the Dental Council.

A number of action projects to give effect to the decisions of the Government will commence in the autumn. The feedback from the consultation process with stakeholders, including staff, which has commenced and will be completed in the autumn will be an important input into the thinking of these groups. The report emphasises the need to ensure that the skills and functions residing in agencies being mainstreamed be retained within the revised structures. Some aspects of the programme, including matters related to staff, will need to be managed in the context of an agreed industrial relations protocol which will be put in place over the coming months.

While it may be possible to introduce some elements of the reform programme on a non-statutory administrative basis, a key element in the programme in the medium to long-term will be the development of a coherent legislation and regulatory framework for the new structures. This is likely to take a longer period and will depend on the legislative timetable. I intend to establish robust structures to drive the implementation as soon as possible. This will include a national steering committee and a project office to oversee and progress implementation. One of their first tasks will be to prepare a detailed project plan setting out a timetable for the various elements of the reform programme.