Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
476. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal mechanisms her Department has in place to obtain assurance that the HSE is monitoring governance, audit, and compliance issues in voluntary hospitals; the process by which her Department is notified of any significant governance risks or failures identified by the HSE in those hospitals; and the actions her Department takes when such risks or failures are escalated. [68737/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, primary responsibility for funding the Voluntary Hospitals for the provision of healthcare services on behalf of the HSE, was placed with the HSE. As a result, primary oversight responsibility for the Voluntary Hospitals is with the HSE and this includes dealing with issues relevant to the delivery of healthcare services as they arise.
Service Arrangements with Section 38 and 39 Agencies enable the HSE to enforce compliance with governance requirements. The HSE implements the Performance and Accountability Framework (PAF) which sets out how the HSE’s six regions and national services are held to account for their performance. The PAF sets out levels of accountability, including for Section 38 and 39 Agencies, and the HSE approach to addressing performance challenges through a tiered escalation model.
The Department measures performance of all of the HSE, including Section 38 and 39 Agencies, against the objectives and targets set out in the National Service Plan (NSP) through the Performance Engagement Model. As part of an escalation process, underperformance against NSP targets is the subject of discussion at monthly engagements between the Department and HSE, with actions identified and agreed.
The Department also manages appointments to all Boards under the aegis of the Department including the Board of the HSE. Quarterly high-level meetings take place involving the CEO of the HSE, the Chair of the HSE Board, the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the Minister for Health. The main agenda items for these meetings include HSE Board appointments, the HSE Statement of Internal Control and topical issues as agreed.
