Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2017
16. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the ownership of hospitals by religious organisations; if he will review this situation, in view of the extensive public funding over decades of these hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/17]
View answer106. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health his plans to review and separate the church ownership of health services across the State. [20408/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 106 together.
As the Deputy is aware and will appreciate, voluntary and non-statutory providers, including religious bodies, have historically played an important role in the provision of health and personal social services in Ireland. Many of our largest and most developed health service providers are voluntary organisations, some with religious involvement.
Ireland is not unique in the participation of voluntary organisations, including those with religious involvement, in the delivery of publicly funded healthcare. However, it is proper that the frameworks within which service providers operate in delivering publicly funded health services are subject to ongoing consideration.
In recent years, the nature of the relationship between voluntary organisations and the State has been clarified in a number of ways. The HSE operates a robust Governance Framework which governs grant-funding provided to all Non-Statutory Service Providers and provides for detailed service level agreements. In the voluntary sector, it is required practice for public capital investment to be accompanied by a lien which protects the State's interest. All public hospitals are regulated by HIQA and are subject to national clinical standards and guidelines. Moreover, as part of the establishment of hospital groups, voluntary hospitals will be required to plan and deliver services in a manner which integrates service provision with HSE-owned hospitals in the region. These arrangements and controls are what are paramount in ensuring high quality care and patient safety, robust operational and clinical governance, and value for State investments.
I am open to giving further consideration to these relationships and the statutory and other controls which support the use of public funds to deliver health policy.
