Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1270. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the national maternity strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25513/16]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1271. To ask the Minister for Health if an implementation group has been put in place with regard to the national maternity strategy; if this group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25514/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1270 and 1271 together.

The National Women & Infants Health Programme will lead the implementation of Ireland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026. Work to establish the Programme Leadership Team continues. The Programme will lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services, across primary, community and secondary care, strengthening such services by bringing together work that is currently undertaken across a number of divisions.

Work to facilitate the implementation of the Strategy is ongoing. For example, the €3 million development funding provided for maternity services in the 2016 HSE Service Plan is being allocated in line with the Strategy and includes the establishment of the National Women & Infants Health Programme and maternity networks, appointment of additional staff, development of specialist bereavement teams and implementation of the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System. Such development follows the additional €2 million allocated in 2015. The need for further additional resources to support the implementation of the Strategy is acknowledged and will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process.

In addition, work to implement the Strategy's recommendation that the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) prioritise and quality assure a set of National Clinical Guidelines for maternity services is progressing. The NCEC, in partnership with the National Clinical Advisor & Group Lead Acute Hospitals HSE, is at an advanced stage in the appointment of the Chair of the Guideline Development Group and agreeing the scope of work for the guidelines.

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly to provide further detail on the implementation of the Strategy.