Over the past ten years reports have been prepared in respect of many different aspects of health and personal social services. These range from services for children to services for older people and from acute hospital services to primary health care services. Such reports provided information, data or analysis which informed the development of health strategy, policy or services.
The Deputy asked about the model for the administration of health services and the achievement of transparency, accountability and value for money. The report of the commission on financial management and control systems in the health service, from 2003, and the audit of structures and functions in the health system, also from 2003, have greatly informed the preparation of the Government's health service reform programme, which is currently being implemented. Examples of pivotal reports in specific areas of service provision include the report of the expert group on mental health policy and the report of the National Cancer Forum, Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006, which is due to be published shortly.