Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Policies.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

52 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the nominating bodies to each board under the aegis of his Department; the number of seats to which each of these bodies nominate; and the guidelines or instructions given to nominating bodies to assist in achieving gender balance in line with Government policy. [6977/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The nominating bodies to each board under the aegis of my Department together with the number of seats to which each of these bodies nominate is set out in the table following.

When making nominations to boards under the aegis of my Department all nominating authorities are expected to have due regard to the Government decisions of March 1993 and March 1995 regarding the achievement of a gender balance in the membership of the boards of State bodies. This decision stipulates that there should be a minimum of 40 per cent of both men and women among the members appointed as ministerial representatives. However, other bodies who nominate members to state boards under the aegis of my Department, while not strictly subject to this decision, are asked to comply with it where possible taking into account the need to ensure that they have the necessary range of skills among their members to function effectively at all times.

NOMINATING BODIES TO BOARDS UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board	Total Membership	Ministerial Nominees	Other Nominees	Other Nominees are nominated by
An Bord Altranais	29	12	17	Nursing Profession
An Bord Uchtála	9	9	0
Beaumont Hospital	15	15	0
Blood Transfusion Service Board	12	12	0
Board for the Employment of the Blind	12	12	0
Board of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital	23	0	23	Various (see note 1 below)
Board na Radharcmhaistoiri	11	5	6	Registered Opticians
Comhairle na Nimheanna	18	13	5	Minister for Agriculture
Comhairle na nOspidéal	27	27	0
Dental Council	19	4	15	Various (see note 2 below)
Drug Treatment Centre Board	10	3	7	Various (see note 3 below)
Dublin Dental Hospital Board	14	9	5	Various (see note 4 below)
Eastern Health Board	38	3	35	Various (see note 5 below)
Food Safety Advisory Board	16	16	0
Food Safety Board of Ireland	9	9	0
General Medical Services (Payments) Board	11	0	11	Various (see note 6 below)
Health Research Board	16	8	8	Conjoint nomination of the Universities
Health Service Employer's Agency	7	7	0
Hospital Bodies Administrative Bureau	3	1	2	Comhairle na nOspidéal
Irish Medicines Board	9	9	0
Leopardstown Park Hospital	9	7	2	Secretary of State for Social Services
Medical Council	25	6	19	Various (see note 7 below)
Midland Health Board	30	3	27	Various (see note 8 below)
Mid-Western Health Board	29	3	26	Various (see note 9 below)
National Cancer Registry Board	9	3	6	Various (see note 10 below)
National Council for the Elderly	29	29	0
National Rehabilitation Board	18	14	4	Worker Representatives
North-Eastern Health Board	30	4	26	Various (see note 11 below)
North-Western Health Board	27	3	24	Various (see note 12 below)
Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board	25	11	14	Various (see note 13 below)
South-Eastern Health Board	31	4	27	Various (see note 14 below)
Southern Health Board	33	4	29	Various (see note 15 below)
St. James' Hospital Board	19	3	16	Various (see note 16 below)
St. Luke's and St. Anne's Hospital Board	10	5	5	Daughters of Charity
Tallaght Hospital Board	23	8	15	Various (see note 17 below)
Voluntary Health Insurance Board	12	12	0
Western Health Board	31	3	28	Various (see note 18 below)

Notes

Note 1: The remaining board members are nominated by the Adelaide Hospital (6 members), Meath Hospital (6 members), National Children's Hospital (3 members), Archbishop of Dublin (6 members), University of Dublin (1 member) and the Eastern Health Board (1 member).

Note 2: The remaining board members are nominated by UCC (2 members), Medical Council (2 members), Registered Dentists (7 members), Royal College of Surgeons (1 member), Minister for Education (1 member) and the University of Dublin (2 members).

Note 3: The remaining board members are nominated by Charitable Infirmary Charitable Trust (3 members), Regional Health Boards, Eastern Health Board, Irish College of General Practitioners and statutory training/occupational rehabilitation services (1 each).

Note 4: The remaining board members are nominated by University of Dublin (3 members) Royal College of Surgeons (1 member), Irish Dental Association (1 member), Joint nomination of the Minister for Education/Health (2 members).

Note 5: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (22 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (9 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 6: Eight members are nominated by the Health Boards (1 each) and the remainder (3 members) are nominated by the Health Board nominees themselves.

Note 7: The remaining board members are nominated by Registered Medical Practitioners (10 members), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (10 members), UCC, UCD, UCG, and University of Dublin (1 each).

Note 8: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (16 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (7 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 9: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (15 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (7 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 10: The remaining board members are nominated by Irish Cancer Society, President (UCC), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, Faculty of Pathology (RCPI), Faculty of Public Health Medicine (RCPI) and Irish College of General Practitioners (1 member each).

Note 11: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (16 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (7 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 12: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (14 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (6 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 13: All board members are appointed following consultation with the Medical Council, Dental Council, other appropriate bodies and any other organisation which represents registered medical practitioners or registered dentists.

Note 14: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (16 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (8 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 15: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (18 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (8 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Note 16: The remaining board members are nominated by Eastern Health Board (4 members), Federation of Dublin Voluntary Hospitals (4 members), University of Dublin (2 members), Medical Advice Committee (2 members), Nursing Advice Committee (1 member), Staff Trade Unions (1 member) together with the Chairperson of the EHB.

Note 17: The remaining board members are nominated by Meath Hospital Board (4 members), Adelaide Hospital Board (3 members), National Children's Hospital (3 members), Eastern Health Board (3 members), University of Dublin (1 member) and the Minister for Finance (1 member).

Note 18: The remaining board members are nominated by Local Authorities (17 members), Registered Medical Practitioners (7 members), Registered Pharmacists, Dentists, nurses and psychiatric nurses (1 each).

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

53 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms used by his Department to ensure that policies, programmes and decisions are proofed to assess their impact on women; the training available to those officials responsible for gender proofing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7009/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): All decisions taken in my Department are examined having regard to their potential impact on the health of women. In order to ensure that the health services are sensitive and responsive to the health needs of women, I am currently preparing a plan for women's health which is the culmination of a detailed process of consultation with women nationally about their health needs.

I initiated this process in June 1995 when I launched a discussion document, Developing a Policy for Women's Health. This document provided a detailed analysis of most of the health issues of concern to Irish women, identified the scope for preventing premature mortality and increasing health and social gain and suggested priorities to be addressed in a plan for women's health. Following the publication of this document my Department, in association with the health boards and the National Women's Council, undertook an extensive process of consultation with women at national, regional and local level. The overall thrust of the consultative process was positive. Women welcomed the opportunity to give their views on health issues. On the whole, women were appreciative of existing health services, while at the same time identifying areas requiring improvement.

The plan for women's health, which is currently being finalised in the Department, will respond to the issues raised during the consultative process and will build on the analysis of the discussion document. It will ensure that health policy and services are more sensitive to women's concerns in the future. The experience gained from the preparation of Developing a Policy for Women's Health, the subsequent consultative process and the formulation of a plan for women's health provided invaluable training for the staff involved in the Department. It is anticipated that the plan for women's health will be published shortly.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

54 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the initiatives, if any, taken by his Department in 1995 and 1996 which were targeted at women; the budget allocated to each initiative; the actual amount spent on each; the budget for his Department in each of the years 1995 and 1996; and the amount of that budget exclusive of direct staffing and overhead costs. [7025/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): In June 1995, I launched a discussion document Developing a Policy for Women's Health which provided a detailed analysis of most of the health issues of concern to Irish women, identified the scope for preventing premature mortality and increasing health and social gain and suggested priorities to be addressed in a plan for women's health.

Following the publication of this document a process of consultation began at national level, with a conference on women's health in June 1995. Consultation at regional and local level was organised by the health boards, each of which appointed a women's health co-ordinator. The process was greatly strengthened by the involvement of the National Women's Council which agreed to be a partner with the Department of Health and the health boards in organising the consultation process. This partnership stimulated an extensive and innovative process of consultation with women. The council, with funding from the Department of Health, appointed a co-ordinator to liaise with the statutory side in structuring the consultation. In each health board region the council appointed "counterparts" to work closely with health boards in organising the consultative process. Each health board in turn appointed a women's health co-ordinator to carry the consultation forward. Consultation with women on health issues took many forms. Conferences, workshops, exhibitions and seminars were held on the full range of topics in the discussion document or on specific topics. Written submissions were also invited from a large number of organisations with an interest in women's health.

At the conclusion of the period of consultation, a report on the organisation and outcome of the process was prepared in each health board in consultation with representatives of the National Women's Council. A national seminar was held in March 1996 to reflect on the outcome of the consultative process and identify priorities to be addressed in the plan for women's health. The plan for women's health, which is currently being finalised in the Department, will respond to the issues raised during the consultative process and will build on the analysis of the discussion document. It is anticipated that the plan for women's health will be published shortly.

It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the cost of the women's health initiative. The costs involved were met from within the allocation to the health services which in 1995 was £2 billion and in 1996 was £2.2 billion.