Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
325. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the role and responsibilities of the CEO of the Department of Health; if he will outline his targets and provide details of his performance package; if a bonus is payable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2012/14]
View answerThe Administrative Head of the Department of Health is the Secretary General. The salary for this position is €176,350 per annum and there are no bonus payments.
The role of the Department of Health is to provide strategic leadership for the health service and to ensure that Government policies for the sector are translated into actions and implemented effectively. The overall purpose of the health service is to improve the health and well-being of people in Ireland by keeping people healthy, providing the healthcare people need, delivering high quality services and getting best value from the health system resources. The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious reform agenda which aims to improve the health system's ability to achieve this core purpose.
As head of the Department the role of the Secretary General, who was appointed following an open Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) recruitment and selection process, is to provide:
- advice and support to the Minister, the Ministers of State and the Government on all matters of policy and regulation in relation to health;
- effective management and leadership of the Department of Health, both in its own direct work and in its leadership role for the overall health sector;
- strategic leadership as a member of the overall system of public administration.
