Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the policy recommendations contained in the various reports commissioned by her in the past ten years which are being pursued including the Hanley Report, the Brennan Report and others; if segments or a combination of each or all of these reports constitutes health policy; the cost of each of the reports; if further reports are contemplated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26403/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As stated in my reply to the Deputy's previous Parliamentary Questions Nos. 139 and 140 of 21 May 2009 on this matter - over 200 reports have been commissioned by my Department in the past ten years. This period has seen widespread reform, huge technological advances, service expansion and fundamental change in our health system.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be possible, given the large number of reports in question, to list all of the recommendations arising from these reports which have been or are being implemented. The recommendations of the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service (the Brennan report), the Report of the National Task Force on Medical Staffing (the Hanly report) and the Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System (the Prospectus report) were key components of the Health Service Reform Programme which was announced by the Government in 2003. The establishment of the Health Service Executive (by the Health Act 2004) consolidated what was then a multiplicity of different agencies within a single agency. This was a core element of the reform programme arising from the recommendations of the Brennan report. More recently, the Government decision of 8 July 2008 on expenditure measures across the public sector and the budget announcement of October 2008 set out the programme of rationalisation of agencies in the health sector. A total of 15 agencies will be either amalgamated into a single body or integrated into existing bodies including my Department and the Health Service Executive. It is intended that this process will reduce the number of health agencies from 34 to 18. Work is under way at present within my Department on the preparation of legislation required to facilitate the rationalisation programme and to collate information from agencies under a range of headings to inform the process.

The Report of the National Task Force on Medical Staffing (the Hanly report) made a number of recommendations including:

?the changes needed in non-consultant hospital doctors' work patterns;

?the need for a significant increase in the number of medical consultants;

?the need for a revised contract for medical consultants;

?reform of medical education and training; and

?the reorganisation of acute hospital services.

Work is proceeding in relation to the Report's main recommendations.

The commissioning of external reports is very much part of a modern and effective administrative system.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the costs of reports is set out in the tables below.

Reports Commissioned in 1999

Reports Commissioned in 2000

Reports Commissioned in 2001

Reports Commissioned in 2002

Reports Commissioned in 2003

Reports Commissioned in 2004

Reports Commissioned in 2005

Reports Commissioned in 2006

Reports Commissioned in 2007

Reports Commissioned in 2008

Question No. 79 answered with Question No. 28.