Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2009
81 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children her policy plans to change the system of funding hospitals to one which takes account of the type and level of activity carried out in that hospital; the efficiency of its use of resources; and its response to community needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26333/09]
View answerI established the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector under the chairmanship of Professor Frances Ruane, Director, ESRI in April 2009 to examine how the existing system of resource allocation within the Irish public health service can be improved to support better the aims of the health reform programme. I have asked this group to recommend the best ways to achieve this, within the level of resources available to health and to report to me and the Minister for Finance by April 2010. Specifically, I have asked the group:
to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the current resource allocation arrangements for health and personal social services;
to recommend appropriate changes in these arrangements, which would support and incentivise the achievement of the core objectives of the health reform programme;
in the light of its work, to take a view on the most appropriate financing mechanism for the Irish health service, and
to base its examination and recommendations on the existing quantum of public funding for health.
