Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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252. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline Ireland's proposed involvement in the EU's Health and Growth 2014-2020 programme; and the person or agency responsible for Ireland's' involvement. [15828/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 21st March and entered into force on 22^nd March 2014.

The programme is a tool to support EU health policy, to foster cooperation with Member States and health stakeholders, and to help improve health outcomes across the European Union. The programme is designed to support and complement Member States’ action in areas where cooperation at EU level is either indispensable or provides important added value.

The 4 main objectives of the third Health Programme (2014-2020) are to

strengthen action to promote health and prevent diseases;

be better prepared to protect citizens against health emergencies and to coordinate action at European level to address them;

increase the up-take of innovation in health; and

improve people's access to medical expertise and information for specific conditions; and improve healthcare quality and patient safety.

Ireland is represented on the Health Programme Committee (DGSANCO) and participates and contributes as appropriate to the formulation and adoption of annual workplans.

The Department of Health and the National Focal Point (based in the Health Research Board) review annual workplans and consider opportunities for participation. The Department liaises as appropriate with the Programme's National Focal Point. The role of the National Focal Point (NFP) is to

support and facilitate the implementation of the Health Programme at the level of the EU Member States

increase the efficacy of the proposals submitted under different financial mechanisms and to evaluate the process of the annual Call of proposals

relay appropriate information about the technical and financial requirements for the participation in the Call of Proposals and Calls for Tenders to potential proposing organisations,

facilitate the orientation of national applicants for the Call of Proposals and Calls for Tenders.

promote the Health Programme dissemination by sharing knowledge and good practices among EU networks of expertise (including hosting information days).