Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the annual operating budget of HIQA; the proposed operating budget for 2008; the number of staff engaged in its operation at present; and if plans exist to increase the staff complement in 2008. [28415/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the budget and number of staff for the interim HIQA for each year from 2004 to 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28654/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 205 together.

The interim Health Information and Quality Authority (iHIQA) was set up in March 2005. The Health Act 2007, which was signed into law on 21 April 2007, provided for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), incorporating the Irish Health Service Accreditation Board and the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services. HIQA was formally established on 15 May 2007.

The operational budget for HIQA for 2007 is €9.667m for current expenditure. The budget for 2008 has not been determined by the Department, but will be decided as soon as possible. The number of staff in position at present is 58, which are comprised of seconded, agency and permanent staff. The number of people that the Authority will employ in 2008 will depend on their budget for next year.

The operational budget for interim HIQA for 2005 was €1.7m and €3.5m for 2006. The interim Authority consisted of a non-executive Board and 2 staff that were seconded from the Department of Health and Children in November 2005. The number of staff increased to three in August 2006 when the Chief Executive took up position. There were also three agency staff working with the Authority by the end of 2006.