Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has approved the Health Service Executive draft service plan for 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6749/10]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Health Service Executive national service plan will be approved and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6887/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 61 together.

I approved the HSE National Service Plan 2010 on 5 February. In approving the Plan, I highlighted to the HSE the need to deliver, at a minimum, the levels of service set out in the Plan as well as operating within the limits of its Voted allocation of €14.069bn. The Plan commits the HSE to delivering activity levels for 2010 which are broadly in line with 2009 levels. Notwithstanding the difficult financial environment, the Government has made available additional resources to assist the HSE in responding to priority demographic and other needs and to support ongoing reform of the public health services.

Planned activity levels for primary community and continuing care services in 2010 are in line with 2009, with some growth in activity proposed in areas such as Fair Deal, home care packages and medical cards schemes. In relation to acute hospital services, the focus will be on reducing inpatient care activity levels through provision of more appropriate service responses, delivering a shift to care on a day case basis, where appropriate, and on performance improvements such as surgery on the day of admission and reducing inappropriate lengths of stay. There will be a particular focus on reducing the current variance across different hospitals for similar procedures. By reducing costs, and reforming the way services are provided, I am confident the HSE will maintain access to services and continue to improve health outcomes for the population.

The Plan was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 8 February and has been published on the HSE's website. During 2010, the HSE will provide me with monthly performance reports on all aspects of progression of the Plan.