Vol. 484 No. 3
241 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to increase the representation from the five Dublin voluntary hospitals on the task force set up to oversee the creation of the new Eastern Regional Health Authority; the universities that will be represented on this authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/97]
The task force on the Eastern Regional Health Authority was set up by my predecessor on 27 November 1996. Its membership includes one person from the voluntary hospital sector and one from the voluntary mental handicap sector. The task force has been carrying out its work satisfactorily and I have no plans to change its membership at this stage. The Government has approved the recommendations of the task force, as set out in its interim report. Final decisions regarding membership of the new authority will be made in the context of the draft legislation which is currently being prepared in my Department.
