John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health the action he will take to deal with the reported funding crisis at Tallaght hospital, Dublin; if he will understand the serious concern of the local community in respect of the issue which is reported to centre on the 2011 deficit; if he will detail contacts he has had with the management of Tallaght hospital management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33742/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware of the joint statement issued yesterday, (Wednesday, 9 November, 2011) by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Michael Jackson (President of Tallaght Hospital), the Board of Tallaght Hospital and I. In this statement we announced a framework to implement a series of new initiatives to reform and modernise the governance structures of the Hospital. This announcement follows an intensive and positive series of discussions involving the Hospital Board and President, my officials, the HSE and myself.

The discussions took place against the challenging backdrop faced by the Hospital in the context of a significant budgetary overrun at the Hospital and the commencement of a HIQA investigation into practices in its Emergency Department.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge publicly the success achieved by the current management and Board of Tallaght Hospital in bringing the budgetary overrun under strict control within agreed parameters, agreeing a further cost saving plan for 2012 and for voluntarily commencing the process of reforming the governance structure of the Hospital – all of which has been achieved since August 2011.

The unique history of Tallaght Hospital, combining as it does (in the form of a Charter) the identity of three separate foundations (the Meath Foundation, the Adelaide Hospital Society and the National Children's Hospital) has resulted in a governance structure which is ultimately no longer properly suited to the modern complexities of running an academic teaching hospital of such a scale.

It has been agreed to implement the reform of the governance structure over two phases with a further reduction in the size of the Hospital Board occurring imminently by the appointment of an interim board while in the longer term the Charter will be replaced by new legislation. The voluntary status of the Hospital will remain and the pluralist core values of the Hospital are assured and will be carried over into the replacement legislation. The values and principles of openness and inclusiveness in all aspects of health care provision, relating to medicine, nursing and research, shall be maintained by the President of the hospital as will the principles of pluralism, freedom of conscience and freedom to practise religion in the Hospital.

These changes, with the support of the foundations, the President and Board of the Hospital, and myself are considered essential for ongoing progress to be assured in the prudent and effective management of the Hospital in a manner that gives the greatest assurance that patients get the best possible service from the available resources.

I remain in close contact with the HSE and Tallaght Hospital in order to resolve this matter as soon as possible.