Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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180. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the Sláintecare report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6589/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently preparing an implementation plan in response to the Committee on the Future of Healthcare's report, Sláintecare. This process is at an advanced stage, and officials from my Department are now engaging with the Departments of the Taoiseach and Public Expenditure and Reform on this matter. It is my intention to bring proposals to Government in the near future. The implementation plan will also be informed by the Health Services Capacity Review recently published by my Department.

In advance of the publication of this implementation plan, good progress has already been made on a number of key recommendations in the report. The Executive Director for the Sláintecare Programme Office is currently being recruited by Public Appointment Service. An international executive search process was undertaken as part of the recruitment process. The deadline for this competition is closed and the candidate selection process is underway. An operational budget of €1 million has been allocated for the Sláintecare Programme Office in 2018. I have established an independent review group, chaired by Dr. Donal de Búitléir to examine the impact of separating private practice from the public hospital system. A memorandum will be brought to Government in the coming weeks with the General Scheme for a Bill to introduce a Governing Board for the HSE, and a process for considering the future alignment of hospital groups and community health organisations will be initiated shortly, informed by a public consultation process.

In addition to this work already underway, it is important to note that a number of the recommendations in the report are already policy priorities with implementation under way. These include the roll-out of health and well-being and e-health strategies, the development of the GP contract, enhancing community nursing services, further roll-out of the Integrated Care Programmes, and the development of an integrated workforce planning framework.

The majority of additional funding for new health initiatives in Budget 2018 has been targeted at areas identified in the Sláintecare report, including a new primary care fund, additional home care and transition beds, reduced medicine and prescription charges, and targeted funding for waiting list reduction.

Very significant preparations are being put in place for the successful implementation of Sláintecare. This will constitute the most comprehensive reform of our health services ever undertaken. I am very confident that the period ahead will see a very notable advance in the implementation of Sláintecare in a manner that will build momentum and support for the overall change process.