Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the mechanisms which have been put in place between her Department and the Health Service Executive to ensure equality of service is achieved between different parts of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35107/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The delivery of health services is an operational matter and is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Under section 31 of the Health Act 2004, the executive must prepare and submit to me its service plan for the coming year and must, among other things, indicate the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided by the executive for the duration of the plan on a national basis. A dedicated unit has been established in my Department to monitor and evaluate the provision of services, including performance, monitoring of the financial position and evaluating efficiency and effectiveness. This role includes regular meetings between my Department and the executive to review progress at a national level. The issue of the provision of services on a regional basis is addressed through regular meetings between the line units of my Department and their counterparts in the executive.