Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will publish the North-South study on health care cooperation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7534/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In 2007 the Department of Health and Children, and the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland), agreed to undertake a Feasibility Study on the potential for future cross border cooperation. A Project Board comprising representatives of the two Departments, the Health Service Executive, and Cooperation And Working Together (CAWT) was established to oversee the Study. The Study, completed in 2009, examined the potential for joint cooperation in health across an extensive range of health and social care services and made a number of recommendations for future cooperation.

The Study was conducted jointly and it was agreed that it would constitute a report to the two Ministers. Any action arising from the report, including a decision to formally publish the report, requires the agreement of both Ministers.

The Study was presented to the Ministers of the two health Departments in 2009 and while the former Minister for Health and Children, Ms. Mary Harney, T.D., indicated her approval for the Study's recommendations, Minister McGimpsey was not persuaded that the report should be progressed at that time.

It would be wrong to construe the non-publication of the Study as an indication of lack of cooperation on health matters. Cross Border working on health has existed for many years and both Departments and the relevant health authorities continue to collaborate on a wide range of health and social care issues including, for example, radiotherapy services, paediatric congenital cardiac services, child protection, and suicide prevention.

Health Ministers meet under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council and continually review the existing arrangements for cooperation and explore other areas for collaboration where mutual benefit for both populations is demonstrated.