Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the six hospital groups; the moneys spent on these to date in each year since they were established; planned developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9516/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Seven hospital groups, including the Children's Hospital Group, have been established on a non-statutory administrative basis. Chairpersons are in place for six hospital groups. The Saolta Group Chair role is being filled on an interim basis by an existing Board member pending appointment of a new Chair. Board members have been appointed to three out of seven hospital groups (Saolta, UL Hospitals Group and Children’s Hospital Group) and it is expected that Board members for the remaining groups will be in place shortly. Group CEOs have been appointed (with interim CEO in Saolta Group) and considerable progress has been made on putting Group Management Teams in place.

I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no separate budget available in the HSE for the establishment of the Groups. Hospital Group expenditure, including a budget to support the work of the Group Boards, is part of the aggregate allocation to acute hospitals within the HSE. It is a matter for the HSE to put in place the appropriate budgetary arrangements for each of the Hospital Groups.

My priority for 2015 is to get all the Hospital Groups up and running as single cohesive entities before then moving towards developing the appropriate underlying legislation as part of the wider structural reforms. A key step in this regard will be the development of Hospital Group Strategic Plans. The Strategic Advisory Group, established to provide objective advice and expertise on the implementation of Hospital Groups, is currently finalising a guidance paper on developing the strategic plans. This guidance will ensure a coherent approach nationally and will be provided to the Hospital Group Chairs to inform and assist them in developing their strategic plans in 2015. I understand that the Systems Reform Division in the HSE has also been engaging with the Group Chairs and Group CEOs and will be providing them with assistance in the development of their plans.