John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with the progress of the structural reform programme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9498/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On taking up my current office, as Minister for Health and Children, I have identified the implementation of the Government's health service reform programme among my priorities.

On 11 November 2004, the interim Health Service Executive announced a high level organisational design and structure for the executive. This process is very well advanced and the HSE is currently engaged in completing arrangements for the recruitment of further key personnel at an early date.

Also, in November, I published the Health Bill 2004, which was enacted last December. Arising from this, the executive was established under ministerial order with effect from 1 January 2005. The executive took over responsibility for the management and delivery of health services from the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. From its establishment day, the functions of the Health Boards Executive, the Health Service Employers Agency, the Office for Health Management, Comhairle na nOspidéal, the National Disease Surveillance Centre, the GMS payments board and the interim Health Service Executive were also subsumed into the executive.

I recently approved a framework for corporate and financial governance for the Health Service Executive. The executive will be required to draft its own code of governance in keeping with this framework which will require ministerial approval. I also recently approved the executive's first ever national service plan for the Irish health system. This plan will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 2004.

Another key element of the structural reforms to be implemented involves the establishment of a health information and quality authority. I recently made a statutory instrument establishing an interim authority whose members will be responsible for making the necessary operational preparations for the authority to be established under primary legislation. It is my intention to bring a Bill before the House before the end of the year to provide for the establishment of the health information and quality authority.

The Hanly report sets out the changes needed in non-consultant hospital doctors, NCHDs, work patterns; a series of reforms in medical education and training; the number of additional consultants needed and how they should work under a significantly revised contract. Implementation of the report's recommendations regarding acute hospital reorganisation had been hampered by the dispute relating to medical indemnity.

While the acute hospitals review group which had been appointed to progress the Hanly proposals will not now proceed, I will continue the planned investment in new hospital facilities, new consultant posts in a team-based system and the organisation of services around hospital networks.

A further important dimension of the reform programme involves the completion of a new organisation design for the Department of Health and Children. The Department will devolve a range of functions to the executive. The restructuring of the Department to implement the organisational design will be carried out in the current year in tandem with the hand-over of agreed functions to the executive.

Work is currently ongoing in my Department in relation to the preparation of separate regulations, pursuant to the Health Act 2004, for the establishment of up to four regional health forums and to cover dealings between the Health Service Executive and members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

My Department is also working on the preparation of regulations to be made under the Health Act 2004 which will deal with the establishment of a statutory complaints framework. I am satisfied that the achievements and ongoing work referred to represent satisfactory progress in the structural reform programme to date.