Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

369. To ask the Minister for Health the occasions on which he or either of his two predecessors communicated with the Health Service Executive under the terms of section 5 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 since the commencement of the Act; the nature of the direction provided to the HSE on each occasion; the occasions on which the Director General informed him or either of his two predecessors of the measures taken by the HSE to comply with a direction issued under section 5; and if such information was furnished within such period as was specified by him in tabular form. [20917/18]

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

The full information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. As the Deputy is aware section 5 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 amends section 10 of the Health Act 2004. Under an agreement reached with the INMO and SIPTU Nursing the Department of Health committed to increasing the nursing and midwifery workforce in 2017 to deliver 1,224 additional permanent posts. On the 27 April 2017 I issued a written direction under Section 10 of the Health Act 2004, to the Health Service Executive, in order to emphasise the importance of full implementation of this Agreement. The table shows dates of progress reports received.

In March 2012 then Minister for Health James Reilly issued a direction under section 10 of the Health Act 2004 to the then Chairman of the HSE in relation to the creation of independent not-for-profit trusts and hospital groups. As Minister for Health Leo Varadkar did not issue any directions to the HSE under section 10 of the 2004 Act.

I will revert to the Deputy with full information as soon as possible.