HSE board reform
Michael Harty asked whether plans to dismantle the HSE had changed in light of Sláintecare and whether legislation would restore an HSE board. The Taoiseach said the Government would follow Sláintecare and the Minister for Health had approval to draft the necessary legislation.
The programme for Government states, "We will continue the process of dismantling the HSE, evolving it into a Health Commission". Following a Cabinet meeting on 13 October, the Minister for Health stated there are plans to establish a governing board to oversee HSE performance, which is in keeping with the Sláintecare report. Does this indicate that the process of dismantling the HSE is now no longer the Government's policy? Will there be legislation to reconstitute the HSE board to ensure it can be accountable for the HSE's performance?
Comment on this
In light of the publication of the all-party Sláintecare report, the Minister for Health, with the support of the Government, decided to follow the reform advocated by that report, rather than what is contained in the programme for Government. The Minister for Health has approval to draft legislation to re-establish the HSE board. I do not have a date for it but he has authorisation to do so.