Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a central risk register in respect of non-statutory bodies receiving direct Departmental funding, conducts formal risk assessments prior to the allocation of funding, applies a risk-rating classification to such bodies, requires annual risk statements from funded bodies; and has defined escalation procedures where governance or safeguarding risks are identified. [13608/26]
View answerAs noted previously in my response to PQ 10007/26, which provides further background to the organisations, there are currently two non-statutory bodies which are funded directly by the Department of Health.
The first, the Institute of Public Health (IPH), is a North/South Agency and is a company limited by guarantee (CLG). It is required to ensure compliance with relevant company law in both jurisdictions. Governance meetings between the two sponsor Departments occur on a quarterly basis. The oversight agreement between the two sponsor Departments and the IPH has defined escalation procedures and points of contact. Their Code of Governance explicitly states: “….the spirit and aims of the Code of Practice can be applied in a proportionate manner to the Institute”.
The second non-statutory body which my Department funds directly is the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). ISQua operates its Secretariat in Dublin, Ireland and my Department has entered into a multi-annual funding cycle effective from 1st April 2024 to 21st March 2028.
This partnership is underpinned by a Funding Agreement. Prior to the award of funding, a Grant Application was submitted by ISQua outlining the terms of engagement, rationale for support and proposed use of the grant. An assessment of the Grant Application was completed by the Department, and any concerns addressed.
ISQua provides information, in advance, to the Department on the purposes for which it proposes to use the Department funding and relevant evidence thereafter that the money was applied for the stated purposes. My Department maintains regular contact with ISQua, and formal meetings between the Department and ISQua provide an opportunity to address any possible deviations from the Funding Agreement.
