asked the Minister for Health if he intends issuing a directive to the health boards advising them to discontinue the practice of holding meetings of local advisory committees, since the wasteful expenditure incurred in the holding of such meetings cannot be justified in the circumstances of stringent cut backs in the medical side of the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Health Boards' Local Advisory Committees.
37.
Under section 7 of the Health Act, 1970, the Minister for Health is obliged to establish by regulations local committees in relation to the functional areas of each health board. These committees were established under the Health (Local Committees) Regulations, 1972. Under those regulations a local committee is empowered to hold such number of meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions. Consequently, the Minister for Health is not empowered to make any changes in relation to the conduct of such committees by way of a directive.
As I have already indicated to the House I am at present considering the question of the appropriate future organisation of health services including the structuring of the health boards. Until this consideration is completed I do not intend to change the existing legislation in relation to local committees only. However, I would point out that in informing health boards of their allocations for 1987, I specifically indicated that substantial savings were to be achieved by a reduction in their travelling expenses.