Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2009
162 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of regulators under the control of her Department; the function and responsibility of same; the number of staff employed, their outturn for 2008 and budget for 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6502/09]
View answerThe twelve agencies under the aegis of my Department discharging regulatory functions can be categorised as follows: six regulators of health care professions; one regulator of health insurance; five agencies, directly funded under the aegis of my Department, whose functions include (amongst other statutory responsibilities) a regulatory role in health related matters such as standards of safety, protection and quality, education and training, medical devices and health care products.
The following table sets out the principal functions of these agencies, the number of staff employed in each of them and, in the case of these agencies which are directly funded by my Department, the final draw down of funding for 2008 and the provisional allocation for 2009.
|
Regulator |
Functions |
Staffing (WTE) |
Final Drawdown 2008 |
Provisional Allocation 2009 |
|
Medical Council |
The principal functions of the Council are to regulate the medical profession in the State including the promotion of high standards in education and professional conduct amongst members and the establishment and maintenance of a register of those engaged in the medical profession. |
47.5 |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
|
Dental Council |
The principal functions of the Council are to promote high standards of professional education and professional conduct amongst dentists in the State and to establish and maintain a register of dentists and dental specialists. |
5 |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
The principal functions of the Society are regulate the profession of pharmacy in the State having regard to the need to protect, maintain and promote the health and safety of the public and to promote and ensure high standards of education and training together with the establishment and maintenance of a register of those engaged in the profession. |
19.5 |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
|
Opticians Board |
The principal functions of the Board are to act as the regulatory body for optometrists and dispensing opticians in the State and approve the education and training of the profession together with the establishment and maintenance of a register of those practicing in the profession. |
1 |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
|
An Bord Altranais |
The principal functions of the Bord are to provide for the registration, control and education and training of nurses in the State and to provide for other matters relating to the practice of nursing and the persons engaged in such practice. |
49.5 |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
Self-funding by way of annual membership fees |
|
Health & Social Care Professionals Council |
The principal functions of the Council are to provide for the establishment and functions of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and of registration boards of certain designated health and social care professions; to provide for the registration of persons qualifying to use the title of a designated profession and for the determination of complaints relating to their fitness to practice; and to provide for related matters. |
2(in start up mode at present) |
€0.315m(Anticipated to be self-funding once fully operational) |
€1.000(Anticipated to be self-funding once fully operational) |
|
Regulator |
Functions |
Staffing (WTE) |
Final Drawdown 2008 |
Provisional Allocation 2009 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
The principal functions of the Authority are to act as a regulatory body for health insurance in Ireland and to license private health insurers, manage and administer any risk equalisation scheme established under the Health Insurance Acts together with providing information and assistance to consumers of the private health insurance market. |
8.6 |
Self-funding by way of a charge on the industry. |
Self-funding by way of a charge on the industry. |
|
Regulator |
Functions |
Staffing (WTE) |
Final Drawdown 2008 |
Provisional Allocation 2009 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
The principal functions of the Authority are to set standards on safety and quality in relation to services provided by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive, to monitor compliance with standards, to undertake investigation as to the safety, quality and standards of services, to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies and to evaluate and set standards for health information. |
59 |
€14.800m |
€14.100m |
|
Mental Health Commission |
The principal functions of the Commission are to promote encourage and foster the establishment and maintenance of high standards in the delivery of mental health services and to take all reasonable steps to protect the interests of persons detained in approved centres under the Mental Health Act, 2001. |
47.3 |
€16.600m |
€20.081m |
|
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
The principal functions of the Council are responsibility for standards, education and training in the field of pre-hospital emergency care services and establishement and maintainenance of a register of pre-hospital emergency care practitioners. |
16 |
€3.438m |
€3.377m |
|
Food Safety Authority |
The principal functions of the Authority are to protect consumer’s health and consumers interests by ensuring that food consumed, distributed, marketed or purchased in the State meets the highest standards of food safety and hygiene. |
88.4 |
€18.505m |
€18.489m |
|
Irish Medicines Board |
The principal functions of the Board are to protect and enhance public and animal health through regulation of medicine, medical devices and health care products. |
245.3 |
€4.993m |
€4.957m |
