Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

720. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the costings of restructuring the HSE to regional health areas from 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26015/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to the implementation of Health Regions (formerly known as Regional Health Areas or RHAs), as outlined in the Programme for Government. A detailed implementation plan will be presented to Government for decision in the coming weeks, and transition to the six new Health Regions will take place through 2023. It is intended that Health Regions will commence operation from February 2024, and further reforms and devolution of authority will take place on a phased basis through 2024 and 2025.

€5.6m in funding was approved in Budget 2023 for the implementation of Health Regions, including the appointment of senior leadership teams. This includes €1.4m in non-pay costs for the year. Sanction will be finalised in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for the creation of six new Health Region Chief Executive Officer posts. This is an initial outlay only and any further expenditure will be sought via Estimates in the usual way.

With the exception of the Health Region CEOs, which have already been provided for in Estimates 2023, it is planned to undertake this reform within the current senior post-holder headcount. The creation of the wider leadership teams of the new Health Regions will be achieved within the existing allocation/headcount of senior posts across the current HSE Centre, the Hospital Groups and the CHOs. This will be important in terms of ensuring efficiency, clear lines of reporting, and a lean HSE centre, in line with the recent comments from the HSE CEO and his plans to re-organise the HSE centre in partnership with Health Regions senior leadership teams.