Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach cannot ask me to follow that.

I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Bill. What it sets out to do is clear. The Minister called it a transitional measure that builds on changes he has already made to the composition of the HSE board. I wish him well as he prepares to move towards a system of universal health care, which is a central plank of the programme for Government. He will have my support in that work.

For many Senators, the Bill will focus our minds on the Health Act 2004, under which the State has been operating. Other Senators have outlined the situation that has since evolved. Oireachtas Members submit questions to the Minister only to be told that the matters involved are not for him, but for the HSE. I hope that those days will vanish with the passage of this legislation.

If money is being allocated from central resources to the provision of health services in hospitals and communities, it makes sense that Government policy be reflected in its expenditure. The Bill develops structures whereby the Minister will have an input into service plans and accountability measures will be introduced. The Minister will be in a position to issue directions to the HSE on the expenditure of funding and the provision of services. It is right that the HSE's priorities will be stated by the Minister.

I was concerned this week that services were not being provided for children who needed community speech and language therapy or occupational therapy. I contacted the Minister and the HSE, for which it is a matter, as funding has been provided. There must be an avenue whereby public representatives and members of the public can bring to the Minister's attention an issue where Government policy is not being reflected on the ground. This legislation would facilitate that.

I particularly welcome the proposed new structures and directorates. Primary care is extremely important and I know from working with people and their families how vital the service is. Senator Crown, who spoke before me, discussed the hospital issue. Primary care involves services in the community, including nurse specialists and public health nurses, that play a very important part in delivering primary care services. It also involves registered nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational and speech and language therapists. The primary care provisions have, to date, had an enormous impact on community services. They provide services locally and in the community, particularly for older people and people who may have children with learning disabilities. This ensures elderly people and the disabled can remain in their own house and community, and we all know the social and long-term economic benefits of that. This is an extremely important plank of Government policy, as it was with the previous Government, and it must be continued and expanded. I know the Minister is completely committed in that regard.

I will also mention the mental health directorate and the fact that this new section will oversee reform in this area. Money has been allocated in the provision of services, and A Vision for Change has been a long time in the making. There is a ten-year strategy that will facilitate a transfer from old psychiatric services to community-based services for those with mental health difficulties. It is a very important plank of the policy. The proposal to set up this directorate has been welcomed by interest groups, and it is particularly welcome that a director will now be responsible for driving forward change in this area and ensuring funding is spent where it is meant to be. It will guarantee that provisions will be available in the local community. With regard to social care, child and family services will also come under a directorate, and there will be clarity in how services will be provided within the HSE structure.

This is an important first step towards a system with universal health insurance and where the money will follow the patient. In such a system, services will be provided based on medical need rather than whether an individual has private health insurance. I wish the Minister well in his quest to get to that point, as I know this is an important first step for him.