Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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808. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the development of a contract management support unit for section 38 and 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25213/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has made considerable progress in ensuring greater accountability in the discharge of responsibilities by both the HSE and its funded agencies in relation to the oversight of grants paid to Section 38 and 39 agencies. The HSE, for example, has implemented a Governance Framework which underpins the funding relationship between the HSE and these agencies.

While the HSE will continue to develop this Framework it has also been acknowledged that there is a need to establish Contract Management Support Units (CMSUs) in the Community Health Organisations (CHOs) to address matters such as conducting the recommended frequency of monitoring meetings in all cases and that the oversight of multi-agreement agencies is co-ordinated.

Because of the resource implications involved in the establishment of CMSUs, they will be established on a phased basis – commencing in 2018. The HSE has already established a CMSU Implementation Group and Phase 1 (2018) will include the appointment of a Head of CMSU in each CHO area and additional staff being appointed to a number of priority CHOs.

When fully established, the CMSUs will assist service managers in managing and documenting all aspects of the relationship with agencies. The HSE will then be in a position to further enhance and oversee the delivery of services by agencies in a manner that will give ongoing assurance in relation to the significant amounts of Exchequer funding involved.