Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the role her Department plays in overseeing the work of the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37493/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Both the Prospectus and Brennan reports identified the need for significant change in the role of the Department of Health and Children as a fundamental reform of the health service. The overall recommendations relating to functions in the two reports were accepted by Government and it was agreed that the Department should be re-organised. The legal framework for this reform has been put in place with the Health Act 2004. One of the main functions of my Department under the Act is the role of policy analysis, its development and prioritisation. The role also includes, on the Health Service Executive, the measurement of performance, monitoring of the financial position and service provision together with evaluating efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.

A dedicated unit has been established in my Department to monitor and evaluate the provision of services by the HSE. This role includes regular meetings between my Department and the executive to review progress at a national level. Regular meetings on particular aspects of service delivery also occur between officials in my Department and their counterparts in the Health Service Executive.