Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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370. To ask the Minister for Health the role his particular Department has in the implementation of the Sláintecare report. [37320/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I obtained Government approval in July for the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy to deliver the vision outlined for our health system in the Sláintecare Report produced by the Future of Healthcare Committee.

The Implementation Strategy recognises that strong leadership and clear governance will be essential to success and it clearly sets out the implementation and governance structures for Sláintecare. The Minister for Health is accountable to the Oireachtas for implementation and will report regularly on progress. The Cabinet Committee on Health, chaired by the Taoiseach will provide overall strategic direction and will oversee implementation, ensuring leadership at the highest level.

A High Level Delivery Board comprising the Secretaries General of the Departments of Health, Taoiseach and Public Expenditure and Reform, the CEO of the HSE and the Sláintecare Executive Director will be established to ensure effective delivery of agreed plans and resourcing of the Sláintecare reform programme.

A Sláintecare Programme Office has recently been established in the Department of Health, which will drive the implementation of the Strategy. The office is led by an Executive Director with vast experience of large scale change and it will be resourced with a team with the appropriate skill mix to deliver the reform programme. The Office will establish the programme of reform as approved by Government and put in place the governance arrangements, processes, structures and resources to implement it.