Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the abolition of the health boards may have been premature in view of the setting up of regional fora for councillors and regional meetings for Oireachtas members and having held a national consultative meeting in Kilkenny in October 2006 with stakeholders in the health services. [35527/06]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has full confidence in the Health Service Executive in view of the regional meetings and fora set up around the country on the health services. [35528/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 183 together.

The Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System, published in 2003, found that the arrangements in place at the time were complex and fragmented. It identified the need for fundamental system-wide structural reform to move from fragmentation to consolidation and integration. This detailed analysis was accepted by the Government, and the HSE was established in January 2005 pursuant to the Health Act 2004.

The provisions of the Act which established the HSE also took cognisance of the need to provide for public representation and user participation. These included the establishment of Regional Health Forums and the National Health Consultative Forum referred to in the Question.

The National Health Consultative Forum, which has the function to advise the Minister on matters relating to the provision of health and personal social services, represents a continuation of a similar arrangement initiated on a non-statutory basis under the National Health Strategy. Annual meetings took place from 2002 to 2005.

As I have indicated, the Regional Health Forums were envisaged as part of the arrangements for the establishment of the HSE. I made regulations under the 2004 Act to allow for their establishment on 1st January 2006. To date each of the four Regional Forums established has met on a number of occasions.

The HSE, as a new and large public organisation, is investing considerable effort in developing its links with Oireachtas members. The recent commencement of meetings by the HSE's senior managers at Administrative Area level with Oireachtas members is part of an ongoing development of its channels of communication in that regard. It is a development I welcome. These arrangements are, of course, additional to the very specific provisions relating to the Executive's accountability to the Oireachtas at national level which are contained in the 2004 Act.

As we proceed with the consolidation of services under a single statutory body, the HSE, rather than a multiplicity of different bodies, I remain convinced of the importance and correctness of the reform path being taken.