Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1073. To ask the Minister for Health if advice provided to him by the regional health areas advisory group is publicly available; if not, if he will publish this advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54800/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health (DoH) is actively progressing the implementation of RHAs in partnership with the HSE, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). 

Regional Health Areas (RHAs) will provide for the alignment and integration of hospital and community healthcare services at a regional level, based on defined populations and their local needs. This is key to delivering on the Sláintecare vision. 

I established an independent RHA Advisory Group of patient and staff representatives from across the health and social care sector in September 2021. The Advisory Group provides guidance, support, and advice on the design of an implementation plan for RHAs to the Department of Health and HSE officials charged with implementing this work programme under Sláintecare.

The RHA Advisory Group has met a total of five times since its establishment and is scheduled to meet again today.

Following each meeting, the Chair of the RHA Advisory Group provides me with a note of the groups advice. You will appreciate that this advice is part of a broader ongoing and deliberative process and is therefore not yet in the public domain. However, the minutes of the RHA Advisory Group are available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/1a9e6-regional-health-areas-advisory-group/  

In addition to the RHA Advisory Group, a number of engagements with stakeholders have taken place over the past several months, including members of the CHOs and Hospital Groups.

All of the insights gained from these engagements will inform the overall design of RHAs. My Department is drafting an implementation plan in partnership with the HSE and other key stakeholders which will cover how RHAs will impact finance, clinical and corporate governance and accountability, digital and capital infrastructure, workforce & HR, and change, communications & culture. The implementation plan will set out the key objectives, actions, and deliverables for the successful implementation of RHAs. The implementation plan is currently in draft and will be finalised by the end of the year.