Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the location of the health information and quality authority, HIQA, headquarters; if it is to be fully or partially decentralised to County Cork; the progress to date in 2006 on this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6516/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On 8 July 2004, the Minister for Finance announced the locations for the decentralised health sector and information and communications technology, ICT, jobs. As part of this decentralisation programme, the headquarters of the health information and quality authority, HIQA, will be located in Cork city involving the decentralisation of 50 jobs.

The new authority has not yet been established. However, heads of a Bill to provide for the establishment of the HIQA and the establishment of the social services inspectorate function, as part of the HIQA, on a statutory basis, are at an advanced stage of drafting in my Department. I will be submitting these draft heads to the Government shortly, following which my intention is to engage in a consultation process on the proposals prior to commencing the drafting of the Bill.

In March 2005, I established the interim health information and quality authority, iHIQA, to make the organisational plans and preparations for the new authority. Among the matters being attended to by the iHIQA are consultation with the National Cancer Registry and the Irish Health Services accreditation board, the functions of which bodies will be amalgamated with the new authority. Additionally, the iHIQA has been in discussion with the Department of Finance about the decentralisation programme and is liaising with the Office of Public Works in identifying suitable accommodation in Cork for the new authority.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of jobs that have been decentralised to the Health Service Executive headquarters in Naas, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6517/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government decided on 6 July 2004 that up to 300 staff of the Health Service Executive would locate to Naas under the decentralisation programme. Section 6 of the Health Act 2004 states that the Health Service Executive is a corporate body. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.