Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

It is difficult to strike the correct balance. The same departmental officials who are overseeing the moratorium, a reduction of staff and decentralisation to Newbridge while preparing a value-for-money report into the Reserve Defence Force and a new White Paper are also responsible for implementing the PA report. Given the radical nature of the recommendations, we cannot expect instant action, but I expect substantial progress over the coming 12 months.

In regard to Deputy Deenihan's immediate question, one of the central recommendations of the PA report was on establishing a structure to oversee change. A programme group and a steering committee has been formed to address this recommendation. Since the last time we discussed this matter in the House, the programme group and the steering committee have held a number of meetings and five working groups have commenced work. The clinical review working group, which is designing new processes and protocols relating to the delivery of clinical services, has completed an interim report which is now being considered by the programme group. The organisation and establishment working group, which is tasked with designing a new structure for the medical corps to incorporate a non-clinical administration unit, has issued a progress report to the programme group. A future medical information system review working group has been established to analyse the information technology requirements for future medical service delivery. The group has completed an analysis of current information systems.

In regard to financial arrangements, an outsourcing review working group has been established to examine the current arrangements in the medical corps for the outsourcing of services. Based on public procurement guidelines, the review group will make recommendations by which the new central medical unit will procure its future outsourcing and services requirements. We are essentially seeking in all of this to obtain better use from existing medical staff so that we will not need as large an establishment in future. We will ensure better value for the people we are employing, which will mean less outsourcing. In tandem with that, we are reviewing the arrangements for outsourcing to ensure better value for money in that aspect.

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