Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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911. To ask the Minister for Health the dialogue which has been undertaken by his Department with religious organisations on the management and ownership of health care facilities by those organisations, with particular regard to proposed changes in that relationship, especially in circumstances in which the services are predominantly funded by the State. [34642/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 health services are subject to on-going 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 inspected by HIQA and are subject to national clinical standards and guidelines. 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 healthcare facilities. The recent debate around the location of the National Maternity Hospital has generated increased discussions in recent months on these issues. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the Religious Sisters of Charity have announced they are relinquishing their ownership of, and involvement with, the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group. I can assure the Deputy that the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group has directly briefed my officials on this decision.

As I have stated previously, I believe it is now timely to consider more broadly the role of voluntary organisations in the public healthcare system. I intend that this will be an inclusive process of consideration and will provide an opportunity for views from all interested parties. It is my intention to bring proposals to Government shortly.

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