Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health the unit in his Department that will be co-ordinating the response of his Department to the Sláintecare report as outlined in his own department's priorities. [48171/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have consistently supported the work of the cross-party Committee on the Future of Healthcare, and welcomed the level of consensus and stakeholder support it has attracted.

Work is underway in my Department to develop a detailed response to the Sláintecare report. The report is wide reaching, and the response will involve the whole of the Department, with key input from HSE colleagues where appropriate. The Departmental lead is the Deputy Secretary in the Department's Policy and Strategy Division with support from other policy units.

The Sláintecare Programme Office will be set up in the Department of Health to implement a programme of reform arising from the Report and I hope that the position of the Lead Executive will be advertised very shortly. I believe that the vision and strategic direction outlined in the report will contribute to developing a programme of reform to make tangible and sustainable improvements in our health services.