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Healthcare Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Questions (91, 828, 829, 830)

David Cullinane

Question:

91. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will establish regional health areas; the form these will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7843/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

828. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans and the actions underway to restructure the HSE; the measures that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8132/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

829. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when regional health areas will be introduced. [8133/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

830. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will provide funding on a population basis via regional health areas. [8134/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 828, 829 and 830 together.

Mar is eol don Teachta, the introduction of the Regional Health Areas (RHAs) will ensure the alignment of hospital, community, and primary healthcare services at a regional level, based on defined populations and their local needs. This is key to delivering on the Sláintecare vision of an integrated health and social care service.

The 2020 Programme for Government committed to bring forward detailed proposals on the six Regional Health Areas to enable delivery of local services for patients that are safe, of high-quality, and fairly distributed. In partnership with the HSE and other key stakeholders, my Department is developing a work programme for their implementation . I intend to bring this proposal to Government for decision in the coming weeks.

Senior Department and HSE officials are leading this work. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is also involved, given the transfer of disability policy to Minister O’Gorman’s Department.

This team of officials is on track to finalise a detailed implementation plan by the end of this year. This will cover how RHAs will impact on workforce and HR planning, funding allocation, capital infrastructure, and governance lines. The team reports on their progress to the Sláintecare Programme Board which reports directly to me. The work programme will provide for substantial levels of staff engagement and of public engagement in Autumn of this year to ensure broad-ranging input to the design of our health and social care services.

Our high-level timeframe is to engage in detailed organisational design work in 2022, with implementation in 2023 and full operationalisation from 2024. We will work within the budgetary and calendar cycles.

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