Terence Flanagan
Question:415. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the date on which the board of the Health Service Executive will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40173/12]
View answerTuesday, 25 September 2012
Questions (415, 416)
Terence Flanagan
Question:416. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on the new governance of the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40174/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
In line with the Programme for Government commitments, a series of legislative changes are planned to bring about radical reform of the health services which will see the introduction of Universal Health insurance. The Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 was published last July. The Bill provides for the abolition of the Board of the HSE under the Health Act 2004 and the putting in place of a new governance structure. The Board will be replaced by a Directorate, headed by a Director General and with strengthened accountability arrangements for the HSE. The Bill is scheduled to being second stage in the Seanad on Wednesday 26 September.
In tandem with the proposed new governance structures, new administrative structures will be put in place in the HSE, to reflect the need for a greater operational management focus on the delivery of key services and greater transparency about funding, service delivery and accountability. These new governance and administrative arrangements represent important first steps in the process of delivering the reform agenda contained in the Programme for Government. The next steps, which will include measures to facilitate clearer and better integrated delivery and funding arrangements, are under consideration at present.