I propose to take Questions Nos. 1020 and 1021 together.
I thank the Deputy for his question. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies aims to ensure commercial and non-commercial State Bodies meet the highest standards of corporate governance.
As previous outlined in response to PQ 13608/26, my Department currently funds two non-statutory bodies directly. 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.
My Department has Governance oversight of HSE, while the HSE has governance oversight of the S38 and S39 bodies. The HSE has a formal national governance framework within which such funding relationships are managed. As part of this governance framework, the HSE requires all grant-aided non-statutory agencies to submit their annual audited accounts to it. It is the responsibility of HSE to escalate issues regarding S38 and S39 bodies to the Department in the first instance with relevant Units in the Department assisting depending on the issue(s) involved.
