Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Part 8 of the Health Act 2004 makes provision for public representation and user participation in the health system. Section 42 of the Act provides for the establishment by the Minister for Health and Children of not more than four regional health forums. These forums will comprise members appointed from each city and county council within the functional area of the forum. The function of a forum, as provided for in the 2004 Act, is to make such representations as it considers appropriate to the Health Service Executive on the range and operation of health and personal social services provided within its functional area.

Section 42 provides that details relating to the establishment, composition and operation of the regional health forums will be set out in regulations to be made by the Minister for Health and Children, following consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Department of Health and Children has prepared a draft of the regulations and has been in consultation with the Health Service Executive on the provisions of the draft regulations. Following completion of that consultation, I will consult with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as required by the 2004 Health Act prior to making the regulations. It is my intention that the regulations will be finalised as soon as possible so as to enable the regional health forums to be established at an early date. The regulations establishing the forums will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as they have been made.

Section 43 of the Health Act 2004 enables the executive to establish advisory panels in order to consult with local communities or other groups about health and personal social services. It is a matter for the executive to determine the terms of reference, the membership and the rules and procedures for each panel. The executive has informed the Department of Health and Children that it has begun the process of examining the different structures that exist in each of the former health board areas for involving consumers at local level and is further developing the consumer panels that already exist. The executive wishes to foster an open approach to service user feedback and comment and is using national and international best practice in developing the new structures.