Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
552 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the timetable for his plans to be implemented in relation to the reduction of the number of health boards; the savings he hopes to achieve by such a move; and the improvements in the hospital services being envisaged by this move. [11467/04]
View answerThe health service reform programme provides for the modernisation of the health service and the achievement of the goals and objectives of the national health strategy, Quality and Fairness — A Health System for You. The Health (Amendment) Bill 2004, which was published on 16 April 2004, represents a further phase in the implementation of the reform programme. It provides for the termination of office of the members of the seven health boards, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and its three area health boards. The Bill also assigns the functions, which are currently carried out by the members of the boards or authority to the chief executive officers of the boards or authority or the Minister, as appropriate. The Bill is an interim measure and is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In addition, it is my intention to publish a second Bill later in the year to provide for the establishment of the health service executive, HSE, and the health information and quality authority, HIQA, on a statutory basis. This further legislation will also provide the legislative basis for other aspects of the reform programme such as improved governance and accountability, planning and monitoring and evaluation. My intention is to have this legislation introduced by December 2004 so as to have the HSE in place in January 2005.
Both the Brennan and Prospectus reports which are central to the reform programme speak of the likelihood of savings in the implementation of their respective recommendations. However, the Prospectus report also states that it is extremely difficult to accurately predict the true financial impact of programmes of this scale. The re-alignment and streamlining of functions and structures in the health system are expected to generate efficiency gains over time and any resources freed up will be re-invested in strengthening front line services. I am satisfied that the new arrangements, combined with the introduction of system-wide best practice governance and accountability systems, will ensure a stronger, more effective health system and an improved health service for patients and clients.
