Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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397. To ask the Minister for Health this views regarding the reason the Health Service Executive refuses to operate stand-alone birth centres in the community, under the home birth scheme, in view of the economic and best outcome advantages in low risk births and the success of this model in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10094/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the deputy may be aware, my department is developing a National Maternity Strategy in conjunction with the HSE. The proposed strategy will set out policy direction for maternity services. As a first step, a review of national and international literature on the organisation and delivery of maternity services was commissioned by the department. That review examined inter aliamodels of maternity care in other jurisdictions including midwifery led care. The literature review is currently informing the development of a high level policy paper. Following the finalisation of this paper, a working group, with appropriate stakeholder representation, will be established with a view to completing the strategy in 2015.

The Deputy can be assured that my Department is committed to the principle of choice for women in the area of child birth. In that regard the issue of stand-alone birth centres in the community is among the matters to be considered in the context of the development of the forthcoming strategy. The HSE currently facilitates a home birth service to eligible expectant mothers who choose to have a home birth under the care of a self-employed community midwife. This service is provided on behalf of the HSE. The community midwife signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the HSE and agrees to be bound by its terms.