I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 165 together.
Under the Public Service Management Act, the Secretary General of the Department of Health has the authority, responsibility and accountability for a range of functions, including the assignment of staff within an appropriate structure to facilitate an effective response to matters that pertain to the Department, while ensuring cost effective public services.
A new Statement of Strategy for the Department is now in place and the Secretary General has established a review which is examining how best to structure the Department and to prioritise the assignment of its available staffing within its sanctioned employment ceiling, in order to meet its strategic business priorities over the coming years.
The Department is considering arrangements for incorporating relevant expert advice for its policy work on a multi-disciplinary basis as part of the review. The review is ongoing and as such, no decision has been made on any particular Units which may be established.
It is anticipated that implementation of the outcome of the review will commence during 2022.