Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2020
223. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE does not have a single integrated finance and procurement information technology system; his plans for ensuring a system will be put in place; if an integrated system will be expedited due to the failings the current system is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the absence of a single integrated financial solution, the HSE has continued to operate multiple legacy financial systems. The Integrated Financial Management System will be introduced nationally on a phased basis, supporting standardised national processes in a shared services environment for finance and procurement functions. In addition, it will support the more efficient utilisation of administrative resources.
Commencing in 2016, the HSE initiated an interim Stabilisation Programme to address a number of key areas of operational risk, replacing outdated and vulnerable legacy ICT systems.
The Consolidated Financial Intelligence (CFI) project developed and implemented in 2017 a single system as an interim solution until the rollout of IFMS, which will provide a consistent and consolidated view of finance systems across the health sector for reporting purposes. The implementation of IFMS will further contribute to the standardisation of financial and procurement processes, workflows and shared services.
The project is currently in the design, build and test phase. This will be followed by a two-phase deployment schedule across the entire publicly-funded health system which will commence in Q1, 2021. Phase 1 is targeted to be complete in Q1 2023, accounting for 39% of overall health system expenditure. Phase 2 coverage is targeted to account for 80% of overall health system expenditure by Q1 2024.
The IFMS progress will be supported by new standard national finance and procurement processes, new operating structures and ways of working and a new national shared services model.
Once implemented, IFMS will allow improved support to overall efforts to improve health and social care services for the benefit of all health service users.
