Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Health when the 2018 HSE service plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48183/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As provided for under the Health Act 2004, as amended, my Department wrote to the Health Service Executive to notify it of its allocation for 2018 on 26 October, 2017 which was within the 21 day time-line following the publication by the Government of the Estimates for Public Services. The legislation provides that, on receipt of the letter of determination, the HSE has 21 days to prepare and submit its National Service Plan for 2018 for my approval.

The Health Act allows me to extend the period provided to the HSE to prepare, adopt and submit its service plan, if required. I understand that intensive discussions are ongoing between the HSE and my Department on the 2018 service plan and that some additional time is required to close off all discussions and finalise the plan. To accommodate this, it has been agreed to grant the HSE an extension until Wednesday, 29 November for submission of the service plan for 2018.

Following the submission of the service plan, the legislation provides 21 days for meexamine the proposed plan and either:

a) approve the service plan in the form it is submitted,

b) approve the service plan with such amendments as I, having consulted with the Executive, may determine, or

c) issue a direction to the Executive to amend the plan.

The National Service Plan must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of its approval. Once the service plan is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.