Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Health the expected start date of a review of church-State relations in hospitals; the length of time such a review would take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21227/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware and will appreciate, voluntary and non-statutory providers, including religious bodies, have historically played an important role in the provision of health and personal social services in Ireland. Many of our largest and most developed health service providers are voluntary organisations, some with religious involvement.

Ireland is not unique in the participation of voluntary organisations, including those with religious involvement, in the delivery of publicly funded healthcare. However, it is proper that the frameworks within which service providers operate in delivering publicly funded heath services are subject to ongoing consideration.

In recent years, the nature of the relationship between voluntary organisations and the State has been clarified in a number of ways. The HSE operates a robust Governance Framework which governs grant-funding provided to all Non-Statutory Service Providers and provides for detailed service level agreements. In the voluntary sector, it is required practice for public capital investment to be accompanied by a lien which protects the State's interest. All public hospitals are regulated by HIQA and are subject to national clinical standards and guidelines. Moreover, as part of the establishment of hospital groups, voluntary hospitals will be required to plan and deliver services in a manner which integrates service provision with HSE-owned hospitals in the region. These arrangements and controls are what are paramount in ensuring high quality care and patient safety, robust operational and clinical governance, and value for State investments.

I recognise that there are different and evolving views on the ownership and governance of publicly funded hospitals. Therefore, before determining future policy I believe it is appropriate to put in place an inclusive process of consideration and I am open to listening to the views of colleagues in this House before embarking on such a significant undertaking.

This process can be expected to raise a broad range of complex policy issues that will need to be addressed on a general basis within the health service into the future and therefore can, rightfully, be expected to take some time.