Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she or her Department has issued instructions, guidelines or advice in the matter of restructuring and reconfiguration of the health services throughout the country with particular reference to the suggestion that it is intended to recreate a number of health boards throughout the country; if such structures are expected to be directly accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas, her Department or the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42786/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE was set up to manage and deliver health and personal social services. One of the core objectives of the health reform programme was to be provide clear lines of accountability and to simplify structures. I have made it clear on many occasions that I want to see health and personal care provided to patients on an integrated basis. I have also made it clear to the HSE that there needs to be accountability for performance throughout the system from the ground up. Reform on this scale is a dynamic process. There must be accountability throughout the system to deliver on national policies and standards.

The HSE has informed the Government that it is proposing to put in place a regional model, within the national structure, to drive operational performance and accountability on the ground. It has not yet finalised its proposals for such a model. The HSE proposes that, within a national structure, authority for operational performance will be delegated to regional level. It will mean that people at regional level will be accountable for the resources provided and the services delivered at that level.

I hope it is clear from what I have said that there will not be any regional authorities or any other autonomous structure within or instead of the HSE. The internal structural changes proposed for the HSE will be considered by the Government when they are finalised and submitted to me by the Board of the Executive. The Government will want to be satisfied that the proposed changes will improve operational performance and accountability, and that they will sit comfortably with the configuration of other public services at local level.