Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

466. To ask the Minister for Health the delegated responsibilities he has given to Ministers of State in his Department; when the order of delegated responsibility was signed; if he included his Ministers of State in direct discussions or meetings with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of pre-budget discussions; if so, the dates of such meetings and the attendance at each meeting; if the Minister of State was not included, the reason this was the position, in view of the designated responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31917/16]

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

I have delegated responsibilities to Ministers of State assigned to my Department as follows:

Finian McGrath T.D., Minister of State for Disabilities at my Department, has been delegated responsibility for all legislation, policy and funding relating to the provision of specialist health and personal social services to persons with a disability. The Order S.I. No. 396 of 2016 Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 delegating these functions was signed by the Taoiseach on the 19 July 2016.

Helen McEntee T.D., Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, has been delegated responsibility for all legislation, policy and funding relating to the provision of mental health services for adults, children and adolescents, including the new strategy on suicide prevention. Minister McEntee is also responsible for all services for older people, including the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The Order S.I. No. of 2016 Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions)(No.2) Order 2016 delegating these functions was signed by the Taoiseach on the 19 July 2016.

Catherine Byrne T.D., Minister of State has been delegated responsibility at the Department of Health for the National Drugs Strategy. The Order S.I. No. 511 of 2016 Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions)(No.3) Order 2016 delegating related functions was signed by the Taoiseach on the 4 October 2016. I have also assigned responsibility for Social Inclusion issues to Minister Byrne on a non-statutory basis.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy T.D., Minister of State for Health Promotion has been delegated responsibility for driving the health and well-being agenda. The Order S.I. No. 512 of 2016 Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions)(No.4) Order 2016 delegating these and related functions was signed by the Taoiseach on the 4 October 2016.

In respect of the responsibilities which have been delegated, I have responsibility for the Estimates and Budgetary processes. However, I meet with the Ministers of State on a weekly basis. The Estimates process formed part of the discussions during these meetings and informed the bi-lateral meetings I had with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the Budgetary process.