Vol. 572 No. 6
305 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional services provided in the Midland Health Board area under the new health strategy; and the way in which these additional services compare with the aspirations contained in that strategy. [24095/03]
Under the Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 1996, health boards are required within 42 days of receipt of their letter of determination to adopt and submit to the Minister for Health and Children an annual service plan outlining the planned activity which they will deliver for the funding received. The 2003 letters of determination specified that the national health strategy should be mainstreamed into the service planning process for 2003 and subsequent years.
An important feature of the service planning process is the ability to assess progress towards the stated goals and objectives of the national health strategy. The Department monitors progress in the implementation of the service plan using the following mechanisms: The service plan progress reports which are submitted by the boards to the Department in advance of quarterly service plan review meetings and the quarterly performance indicator reports.
The service plan is a public document and is available from the Midland Health Board. The Department has published a progress report on the implementation of the strategy for 2002.
Progress on the implementation of the strategy for 2003 and future years will be detailed in the Department's annual report. In relation to specific progress in the Midland Health Board, my Department has asked the chief executive officer to communicate directly with the Deputy.
