Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will publish the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45514/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I approved the HSE National Service Plan 2009 last Tuesday, 9 December 2008 under Section 31(8) of the Health Act, 2004. In approving the Plan, I highlighted to the HSE certain critical performance issues in overseeing its implementation. I also emphasised the necessity for the HSE to operate within the limits of its Voted allocation in delivering at a minimum, the levels of service which are provided for in the Plan.

In broad terms, the Plan outlines that the HSE will deliver the same activity in 2009 as in 2008. In order to deliver the level of services it is committing to, the HSE will be reconfiguring many front line services. This is in keeping with the overall strategic direction as set out in the HSE Corporate Plan 2008 — 2011 and includes conversion of in-patient work to day case work, a focus on reducing in-patient length of stay in acute hospitals, reduction of in-patient bed numbers and associated costs and the provision of more services in community settings, thus reducing the dependency on in-patient beds. The 2009 allocation includes €120m to meet service pressures arising from demographic changes and also includes €55m for the implementation of the Fair Deal Scheme, an additional €15m for the Cancer Control Programme and €10m for therapy supports for children of school going age.

Clearly, the current fiscal position demands the most careful control of public expenditure and I am strongly of the view that account needs to be taken of all emerging potential cost pressures. In this context, I have asked the HSE to review the latest information relevant to the management of Demand Led Schemes expenditure and to formulate and submit a contingency plan to address any pressures in this area over and above those provided for in the Plan. During 2009, the HSE will provide me with detailed information relating to service activity levels by way of monthly Performance Monitoring Reports against the Plan.

The Plan was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 10 December in line with Section 31(13) of the Health Act 2004 and the HSE has been asked to make arrangements to publish the Plan on their website as soon as possible in line with Section 31(14) of the Act.