Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in the establishment of a national health innovation hub as promised under the action plan for jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48140/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2014 the National Project Team for the National Health Innovation Hub finalised recommendations on the optimum arrangements for establishing the national Hub. These arrangements were arrived at by taking into consideration the experience to date of the (pilot) Demonstrator Project in Cork, and the outcome of an independent evaluation of the Demonstrator Project carried out by consultants during 2014. The consultants concluded that the Health Innovation Hub has potential to be a vital component of national innovation infrastructure and its value has been recognised by the relevant stakeholders in the healthcare sector and industry. The recommendations of the National Project Team formed the basis of proposals to Government which considered the next steps for establishing the National Health Innovation Hub.

In July 2014, Government agreed to the establishment of a National Health Innovation Hub that would be tasked with proactively developing, managing, and progressing relationships and connections with industry and the health system. A Joint Agency Project Team, chaired by Enterprise Ireland and comprising representatives from my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board, has been established and is designing a competitive call for hosting the National Health Innovation Hub. It is intended that the competitive call will be launched in early 2015. Ministers Bruton and Vardkar can confirm that Mr Dave Shanahan an Industry Partner will chair the new implementation body.