Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Health if robust service level agreements between parent Departments and State bodies are now in place for all non-commercial State agencies. [4812/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The functions of State agencies under the remit of my Department are primarily set out in statute. Part of the statutory requirement is that annual business/service plans are submitted to the Department for approval. These service plans are monitored on an ongoing basis. For those agencies funded by my Department, annual income and expenditure profiles are approved, monitored and controlled by my Department.

In addition, officials from my Department hold regular meetings with agencies on corporate governance and other matters to ensure that there are robust governance arrangements in place, and that the agencies are in compliance with "2009 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies". I am satisfied that my Department maintains appropriate oversight over the agencies under its remit and that we are continuing to ensure that there is greater convergence between agency activity and health policy.