Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 301: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the membership and composition of the regional health fora; the dates set for their first meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1046/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposed membership of the regional health fora; the way in which that membership is to be selected; the establishment date for each forum and the duties, responsibilities and functions of same. [1267/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 333 together.

Section 42 of the Health Act 2004 provides for the establishment of not more than four regional health fora, the membership of which is composed of members nominated by city and county councils. The regulations providing for the establishment of the regional health forums — the Health Act 2004 (Regional Health Forums) Regulations 2005 — were published on 12 December 2005 and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 14 December 2005. The regulations provided for the establishment of the fora on 1 January 2006. It will be the responsibility of the Health Service Executive to convene the first meeting of the each forum which must take place not later than four weeks after the final member of each forum has been appointed.

The function of the regional health fora, as set out in the 2004 Act, is to provide local public representatives with an opportunity to make representations to the Health Service Executive on the range and operation of health and personal social services in their area. The establishment of these fora demonstrates this Government's commitment to ensuring that local public representatives will continue to be heard in relation to the operation and development of health and personal social services in their areas. The fora will complement the role of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in the ongoing oversight of the health services.

The titles of each forum, its functional area, the number of members of each forum and the numbers of members to be nominated by the city and county councils to each forum are specified in the regulations and are set out. Each city and county council has been allocated a number of representatives based on the range in which the population of its area falls into. The regulations provide that the appointment of members to the fora will be undertaken using a grouping system similar to that provided for in the Local Government Act 2001.

The population ranges are as follows: