Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way it is intended to monitor the work that was previously carried out by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency when it is subsumed into the Health Service Executive; if the progress on reducing the number of abortions carried out on Irish women will continue to be monitored; if the co-operation of the many different voluntary organisations that work in this field will be maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26323/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that the important work which the Crisis Pregnancy Agency carries out will continue. There are a number of factors which will ensure that this happens.

Part 6 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 specifies the functions of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency which are to transfer to the HSE. These functions include:

the preparation of a strategy to address the issue of crisis pregnancy in consultation with specified Departments of State and other appropriate persons;

to work with appropriate agencies to promote and coordinate the attainment of the objectives contained in the strategy;

to produce periodic reports on progress and to propose remedial action where required;

to further the attainment of the objectives of the strategy by promoting public awareness, developing, promoting and disseminating information and informational material and by fostering the provision of education and training;

to draw up codes of best practice for consideration by agencies and individuals involved in providing services to women with crisis pregnancies;

to promote and commission research into aspects of crisis pregnancy, as considered necessary;

to furnish advice to the Minister to other Ministers of the Government on issues relating to crisis pregnancy and

to perform any other function in relation to crisis pregnancy that the Minister may assign.

The HSE is currently in the process of planning how best to integrate and carry on the work of the Agency within its structures.

Under the Health Act 2004, the HSE is required to produce a service plan each year, specifying the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided. I will be laying a copy of the HSE's service plan before the Oireachtas each year as well as a copy of the HSE's Accounts and Annual Report.