Written Answers Nos. 750-750
750. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the European Union funding which the HSE has or could avail of; if there is a dedicated individual or office which ensures the HSE is availing optimally of European Union funding for healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6545/22]
View answerThe Department of Health and its agencies, including the HSE, actively engage with a wide range of EU activity including funding programmes. EU funding is disbursed through a variety of channels to the Department, agencies and the wider health sector. In my Department, the International Unit leads on coordinating EU activity and works closely with the EU and North South Unit in the HSE, which has a similar role in that organisation.
The HSE‘s EU and North South Unit works on behalf of the HSE to promote North-South health co-operation to ensure better outcomes for people, especially those living in border and remote areas. The Unit supports services to identify and fund appropriate healthcare development and leads engagement on programmes including EU4Health, the multiannual EU health programme with a total budget of €5.3 billion for the period 2021-2027. The Unit also drives positive engagement on the INTERREG VA programme focused on Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland, as well as its successor programme PEACE PLUS. In 2022 the HSE will continue to act as lead partner on four INTERREG VA projects to the value of approximately €30m in the areas of acute services, mental health services, population health and children’s services.
