Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

401. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will publish a five-year service plan. [53852/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Partnership Government set out our intention to work with the Oireachtas to sustain appropriate annual increases in the Health Budget. Expenditure will be based on multi-year budgeting supported by a five year Health Service Plan based on realistic and verifiable projections. The funding increases provided to the HSE since this Government came into office, and the enhanced performance and accountability framework introduced by the HSE, provide an important basis for planning multi-annual health expenditure and the operation of the health services within the limits determined by the Oireachtas. These will be key to the sustainability of this approach.

The development of such a multi-year service plan will have to align with the future implementation plan for the Sláintecare report, which was published earlier this year.

My Department is currently working on a response to the Sláintecare report to bring to Government and a plan on how best to progress the many recommendations in the report. This response is being developed with input from the HSE. I expect to be in a position to bring this to Government very early in the new year.

In the meantime, the HSE formally submitted their National Service Plan for 2018 to the Department on 8th December. Following the submission of the National Service Plan, the legislation provides 21 days for me to examine the proposed Plan and where necessary to seek amendment to, or approve, 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.