David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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659. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe envisaged for removing private healthcare from public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17458/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The removal of private practice from public hospitals is a core principle of Sláintecare, ensuring that public healthcare facilities are used for public patients only. The priority for Government at this time is the introduction of the new Consultant Contract, a crucial element of removing private practice from public hospitals.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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660. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to underpin Sláintecare on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17459/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 was approved by Government in May 2021. A mid-year progress report was published in September 2021 and an end-of-year Progress Report is expected to be published in the near future. Any legislation required as part of these work programmes are considered and progressed in due course. For example, legislation was enacted to facilitate the establishment of a new HSE board as part of the Sláintecare reform.

The Government is committed to Sláintecare reform and to ensuring every patient receives the right care, in the right place and at the right time. €1.235 billion was allocated to ‘pure’ Sláintecare initiatives in Budget 2021 enabling and supporting major milestones in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023 to be reached and funding is continuing at historically levels in Budget 2022.