Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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54. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 813 of 30 April 2014 and in respect of the Health Service Executive service plan, in which he stated that the plan was based on the dual challenge of protecting patient outcomes and reducing costs, the reason midwifery-led maternity care is not being promoted as the best option for safety and cost. [21142/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is preparing a National Maternity Strategy which will determine the future model of maternity services to ensure that women have access to safe, high quality care in a setting most appropriate to their needs, ensuring access at all times to the right level of care and support, and providing choice insofar as is possible. The Strategy will incorporate a review and evaluation of current services and therefore provide us with the opportunity to take stock of current services and identify how the quality and safety of care provided to women and their babies can be further improved. It is anticipated that the strategy will define the key principles underpinning models of care, and in that context, the issue of midwifery led care will be considered.