Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cross-Border programmes, initiatives, areas of co-operation and so on which her Department is currently engaging in or about to engage in with its counterparts in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5819/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

North/South Cooperation takes place at three levels viz. North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), Joint Departmental Projects and Cooperation And Working Together (CAWT). North South Ministerial Council

The five designated areas of cooperation are Accident and Emergency/Acute Services, Emergency Planning, Cancer Research, High Technology and Health Promotion and progress continues to be made on these area of cooperation. Progress is also reviewed at the NSMC Health Sectoral meetings. The latest meeting was held in Belfast in November 2009 and the next meeting is expected to take place in Dublin in mid 2010. Joint Departmental Projects

My Department and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (NI) have undertaken a number of joint projects. These include the establishment of a new radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin Hospital (to be completed by 2015) and proposals to collaborate in providing Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services in Belfast and Dublin. A joint Feasibility Study on the potential for future cooperation has also been completed. The Study made a number of recommendations across an extensive range of health services. I have approved the Study and my colleague the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety is currently considering the matter. Other joint Departmental initiatives include collaboration in other areas such as Suicide prevention, Pandemic Flu Planning, Child Protection and GP Out of Hours Services. Cooperation And Working Together (CAWT)

Outside of the formal structure of the North South Ministerial Council the main vehicle for North/South cooperation is CAWT with a specific focus on border counties. Both Health Departments have agreed to appoint CAWT as the Delivery Agent for the European INTERREG IVA 2006-2013 Programme - €30million for health related Projects over the lifetime of the Programme. The Operational Programme for the Health measure has been approved and implementation of various cross border Projects has commenced.