Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the regional imbalance in the provision of health services is still a major issue five years after the publication of the health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21252/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Health Strategy Quality and Fairness — A Health System for You was announced by the Government in 2001 to provide vision and strategic direction for the health and personal social services. The Strategy sets out the key objectives for the health system up to 2010, which are centred on four national goals:

·Better Health For Everyone

·Fair Access

·Responsive and Appropriate Care Delivery

·High Performance.

It was recognised that in order to achieve these goals that the health system would need to be reformed. The Prospectus Report 'Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System' identified fragmentation as a core issue to be addressed as part of the Reform Programme. The Health Act, 2004, provided the statutory basis for the replacement of the former health boards with a single unitary health system the Health Service Executive (HSE), on 1st. January, 2005. The achievement of consistency in the standard and range of services available in each region of the country is a key objective of the health service reforms.

The Health Act 2004 sets out in broad terms the performance framework for the Health Service Executive. As part of that framework, the HSE must submit to the Tanaiste, for approval, a Corporate Plan and an Annual Service Plan. The HSE Corporate Plan for 2005 — 2008 commits it "to develop a consistent approach to access to service throughout the country, based on identified need". The Service Plan format is currently being revised within the Department. The 2007 Plan will, very specifically, include a section devoted to Consistency and Social Inclusion which is to contain details of initiatives being pursued by the HSE to ensure, amongst other things, a geographical equity in the provision of services.

Successive Governments have pursued a policy of regional self-sufficiency in relation to the provision of hospital services in order to ensure that patients are in a better position to access services locally. The benefits of this policy are evident through a series of major infrastructural developments in hospitals around the country which has resulted in the availability of more services and new specialties on a regional basis.