Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received an interim report from the group she has established on the financing of health services; if reform is envisaged to achieve more cost effective structures in the future and in the context of talks with trade unions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45545/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector which I established in April this year under the chairmanship of Professor Frances Ruane, Director, ESRI. This Expert Group has been asked to examine how the existing system of resource allocation within the Irish public health service can be improved to support better the aims of the health reform programme. I have asked this Group to recommend the best ways to achieve this within the level of resources available to health and, in the light of its work, to take a view on the most appropriate financing mechanism for the Irish health service. The Group has been asked to report to me and the Minister for Finance by April 2010 and has not been asked to make an interim report.

As part of its current deliberations the Expert Group sought submissions from the public and relevant interested groups/parties on the issues within its remit. Submissions from health sector unions were amongst the sixty one submissions received by the Group. I would expect the Group to take account of all aspects of the health reform programme including the type of changes in service delivery which informed the discussions last week with health service trade unions.