James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to bring forward amendments to the Health Act 2004 to delegate budget authority further down the structure of mental health services in view of the recent Roscommon service review report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52714/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 2004 (as amended), it is the responsibility of the HSE to manage its entire budget and to set out in its National Service Plan what can be delivered in the coming year within the funding available. The Executive has responsibility for implementing its mental health Budget as part of its Service Plan, including agreed service priorities at national or local levels. In this context, further delegation is a matter for the Executive.

The Accountability Framework within the HSE also provides an administrative framework of delegated authority, which currently provides for delegated budget accountability from the National Director of Mental Health to a Chief Officer at Community Health Organisation level.

I am familiar with the report recently published by the HSE on mental health services in Roscommon, including a recommendation that the HSE should consider delegating budget authority further down its organisation than is currently the case. The Executive has established an Implementation Team to follow through on the recommendations of this Report.

At this time and bearing in mind all the circumstances, it is not considered that any legislative amendments along the lines suggested by the Deputy are necessary in relation to any recommendation of this report.