Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004

Wednesday, 2 June 2004

Questions (194, 195, 196)

John Bruton

Question:

187 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has had a risk assessment carried out on possible consequential risks to the effectiveness of services provided by each Department or agency under his aegis which is to relocate under the Government’s decentralisation programme; if not, the reason therefor; and if so, if the risk assessment will be published, furnished to the Comptroller and Auditor General and accessible under the Freedom of Information Act 1997. [16850/04]

John Bruton

Question:

190 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will take steps to ensure that the annual report of his Department will contain a risk assessment of decentralisation, as it affects his Department or agencies under its aegis, dealing with strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks as set out in paragraph 6.31 of the Mullarkey report. [16895/04]

John Bruton

Question:

196 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Secretary General of his Department has tendered advice to him in pursuance of his personal responsibility as Secretary General under public financial procedures for economy and efficiency in the administration of his Department on the impact in the short or long term on the economy and the efficiency of administration of his Department or its agencies arising from the Government’s proposals for decentralisation. [16968/04]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 190 and 196 together.

While preliminary work has been taking place on decentralisation, my Department and the bodies established under the aegis of my Department are not required at this stage to undertake a risk assessment exercise in respect of the public service decentralisation programme. Until a final decision is taken by Government on the location of the headquarters of the health service executive and associated agencies, the information request by the Deputy cannot be provided. This decision is expected shortly,