Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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891. To ask the Minister for Health the intended progress with the Sláintecare programme; if changes are anticipated in respect of its original function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51259/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 was approved by the Government in May 2021. The six-month progress report, published last month, indicated that of the 112 deliverables, 109 were on track or progressing with minor challenges. I would expect that progress would continue at pace in 2022, supported by the allocation in Budget 2022 of €21 billion, the biggest ever investment in Ireland’s Health and Social Care Services to deliver Sláintecare.

A new Programme Board is being established to ensure that the drive for universal healthcare is fully embedded in both the Department of Health and the HSE. It will be co-chaired by the Secretary-General of the Department and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and will also comprise senior members of the Management Board and Executive Management Teams. It is in the process of being constituted and is expected to have its first meeting in the near future. The Board will report to me. The Cabinet Committee on Health will continue to report as appropriate. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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892. To ask the Minister for Health the source of the indication to impede the regionalisation features of Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51260/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health is actively progressing the delivery of a Business Case for RHA Implementation at present. Substantial work has been undertaken over the past several months in progressing regional health areas (RHAs) within the Department of Health. Research into international best practice has been completed. Policy options have been drafted. Consultation with stakeholders including patients, clinicians, policymakers, and hospital group and community healthcare organisations officials has taken place. An advisory group of clinicians and patient representatives is being established to inform the implementation process. 

In Q2 2021, given the immense pressures the health service experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and cyberattack, the HSE asked me to pause implementation of RHAs for a period of time. In recognition that structural and functional change is time consuming, I agreed to that request in order that HSE senior officials could devote their time to managing the vaccination rollout and cyberattack recovery. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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893. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which a special programme incorporating Sláintecare can be utilised to deal with hospital waiting lists as well as ensuring that no further waiting lists are created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51261/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 committed to developing a Multi-Annual Waiting Lists Reduction Plan. My Department, the HSE and the NTPF is working on that Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and including representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.  

Furthermore, I published an Acute Waiting List Action Plan on the 7th of October. This plan, to run to December 2021, was drawn up in consultation between my Department, the Health Service Executive and the National Treatment Purchase Fund and will address the increase in acute hospital waiting lists arising from the impact of Covid-19 and the cyberattack.

For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.