Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1091. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the work of the Programme Management Office in his Department; its functions, membership and the date of its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34932/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has been working on proposals for ensuring that health reforms are implemented in a timely and effective way, including the establishment of a Programme Management Office, as promised in Future Health. In February of this year I approved the governance arrangements for the Programme of Health Reform.The new structures include a Programme Management Office and a Health Reform Programme Board in the Department of Health and a Systems Reform Group in the HSE. The Programme Board will drive and oversee implementation of the health service reform programme, the actions in Future Health and the Integrated Reform Programme, in line with the overall public service reform agenda. The Board comprises senior officials of my Department and the HSE, as well as an independent expert in programme management. The Programme Management Office will focus on timing, sequencing and milestones for each project. It will prioritise, monitor and report on the health reform programme as a whole, identifying inter-dependencies between actions and highlighting areas for corrective action.

A senior official with extensive experience in this area has been assigned to undertake work on the PMO by the Secretary General. Two other staff with relevant expertise have also been assigned to the Programme Management Office.