Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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868. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of implementing the national maternity strategy; the current funding allocated for same; the funding earmarked to implement it across the next couple of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13428/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Women & Infants Health Programme has recently been established in the HSE and will lead the implementation of Ireland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026. The programme is currently drawing up a detailed action plan for the implementation of the Strategy on a phased basis. This work will include the identification of both capital and revenue funding requirements which will in turn inform the annual Estimates process over the lifetime of the Strategy.

€3 million development funding provided for maternity services in 2016 was allocated in line with the Strategy, and included funding for additional staff, including 100 midwives, the development of specialist bereavement teams and for the implementation of the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System. Increased funding of €6.8m is being provided for maternity services in 2017 which will allow for the continued implementation of the Strategy.