352 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the fact that, despite increased spending on the health services of 45% over the past number of years, there is little in terms of a service to the community by return. [8230/02]

Since this Government came into power, a number of major policy initiatives underpinned by the most significant programme of investment in the health services have been launched that reflect the reorientation and reshaping of the health services so as to improve people's health and quality of life. These initiatives cover a wide range of health and personal social services, from organisational reform through the establishment of the ERHA in March 2000, the Social Services Inspectorate in April 1999 and the Office of Tobacco Control in July 1999 through to the launching of major national strategies, such as the cardiovascular strategy, the health promotion strategy and the national children's strategy and, of course culminating in the new national health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You late last year.

This year, over €8 billion is being invested in the health services which represents an overall increase for the health services since 1997 of 125%. Currently, there are in the region of 85,000 people working in the health services as against 67,000 in 1997. While much work remains to be done, the benefits of this Government's major programme of investment and reform is reflected right across the health services.