With effect from 1 January 2005, the Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the delivery of health services. The Health Act 2004 provides that the object of the executive is to use the resources available to it in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public. I fully support the work of the board of the executive and its chief executive officer in the pursuit of these objectives. Under Section 31 of the 2004 Act, the executive is obliged to prepare, adopt and then submit to me for approval a service plan for the financial year or other period as may be determined by me.
I approved the executive's national service plan for 2005. The plan covers all the main programmes of care and treatment for the health services and sets down projected activity levels for those programmes. The plan also describes the objectives of the programmes and the actions to achieve these objectives. It outlines the key issues for the year ahead and the mechanisms to monitor it. Initiatives in regard to research, quality, evaluation and value for money are also covered. In line with the provisions of the Act, I ensured that a copy of the 2005 service plan was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The implementation of the plan is the operational responsibility of the executive and is the subject of ongoing monitoring by my Department and the executive. The executive reports to me on a regular basis in regard to the achievement of targets described for each programme.
Under Section 29 of the 2004 Act, the executive is obliged to prepare, adopt and then submit to me for approval a corporate plan for the three year period following its submission. The executive has submitted its corporate plan for 2005-08 in accordance with the provisions of this section. It incorporates a vision and mission informed by the goals of the health strategy and tailored to reflect the functions of the executive as a body with responsibility for delivering services. I have approved the corporate plan and I will ensure that a copy is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by 21 October 2005.