Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 197: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the Crisis Pregnancy Agency's work and the issue of reform. [3803/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Crisis Pregnancy Agency was established on 2 October 2001 under the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961. Its main role is to facilitate co-ordination of efforts of all groups in the area of crisis pregnancy prevention. The agency reports that over the past three years, it has increased the level of crisis pregnancy counselling available in the country by more than 50%. Last year, the agency allocated more than €3.5 million towards supports and services within crisis pregnancy.

A report, The Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System, known as the Prospectus report, considered the structures and functions of the different specialist, advisory, regulatory and executive agencies within the health system and recommended the mainstreaming of many of them. It is in that context that I am considering at present the most appropriate future organisational arrangements in respect of the agency having regard to the separation of policy and executive functions, which is a key objective of the health service reform programme.