A comprehensive programme of rationalisation has been implemented across Department of Health funded agencies since mid-2008. The primary aim of the rationalisation programme is to streamline service delivery, professional registration and policy making in a number of areas in the health sector, through the integration and/or amalgamation of functions. The extent of savings will vary between organisations and the majority of staff will be redeployed to other public service bodies. Efficiencies will derive from economies of scale and the elimination of duplication in areas such as recruitment, procurement, payroll and ICT.
Primary legislation was/is required to dissolve each individual agency. Since the Government took office, the following progress has been made:
Agency
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Dissolved/Merged
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Date
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National Social Work Qualifications Board
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Subsumed into Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU)
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31 March 2011
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Children Acts Advisory Board
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Subsumed into the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
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8 September 2011
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National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery
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Dissolved and Subsumed into An Bord Altranais
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31 December 2011
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The Drug Treatment Centre Board is scheduled to be dissolved and subsumed into the HSE shortly. It is envisaged that the drafting of the Bill to subsume the Opticians Board into CORU will commence this year and that rationalisation will be finalised in 2014.
As part of the Public Service Reform Plan announced on 17th November 2011, my Government announced 6 further bodies to be considered for rationalisation.
Mental Health Commission
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National Paediatric Hospital Development Board
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Health Information and Quality Authority
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National Treatment Purchase Fund
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Health Insurance Authority
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Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council
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