Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

17. To ask the Minister for Health the responsibilities and reserved functions of each of the Ministers of State who are attached to his Department; why no Minister of State has special responsibility for the roll-out of an enhanced primary care service; and which Minister will have responsibility for delivering this critical policy. [13733/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Finian McGrath TD has been appointed as Minister of State for Disabilities at my Department, with responsibility for all legislation, policy and funding relating to the provision of specialist health and personal social services to persons with a disability. Catherine Byrne TD has been appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy which expires at end 2016 and in respect of which a new and important strategy for the future is being developed. Helen McEntee TD has been appointed as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, with responsibility for all legislation, policy and funding relating to the provision of mental health services for adults as well as children and adolescents, including the new strategy on suicide prevention. Minister McEntee will also be responsible for all services for older people, including the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD has been appointed as Minister of State for Health Promotion with responsibility for driving the health and well-being agenda which was already given a priority status under the last Government and requires to be pro-actively rolled out across the entire population for the benefit of the nation's health.

The Programme for a Partnership Government places particular emphasis on enhancement of the capacity of primary care and improving the integration between primary care and other services, in particular the acute hospital system. In my view the achievement of a decisive shift of focus to primary care, with the maximum proportion of people’s healthcare needs being met in the community, is best ensured by political responsibility for this agenda resting with me as Minister for Health.