Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the future of the regional health forums; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41904/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Section 42 of the Health Act 2004 provides for the establishment of not more than four Regional Health Forums, the membership of which is composed of members nominated by city and county councils. The Regulations providing for the establishment of the Regional Health Forums - the Health Act 2004 (Regional Health Forums) Regulations 2005 - were made on 12 December 2005 and provided for the establishment of the Forums on 1 January 2006.

The function of the Regional Health Forums, as set out in the 2004 Act, is to provide local public representatives with an opportunity to make representations to the Health Service Executive on the range and operation of health and personal social services in their area. The establishment of the Forums demonstrated the Government's commitment to ensuring that local public representatives would continue to be heard in relation to the operation and development of health and personal social services in their areas. The Forums complement the role of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in the ongoing oversight of the health services.

There are no plans at present for any change either to the structure or role of the Forums.