Healthcare Policy

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Ceisteanna (854)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

854. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 60224/26 and 60228/26 of 7 September 2026, whether a formal mechanism exists to record instances of non-compliance by the Institute of Public Health with its Oversight Agreement; to state yes or no; the number of occasions since 2020 on which non-compliance has been identified; whether the grant suspension provision in the Oversight Agreement has ever been invoked; whether any independent audit of the Institute's compliance has been carried out, and if so, the date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68766/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.

The formal mechanism by which instances of non-compliance of the Institute of Public Health with its Oversight Agreement is recorded would be by means of correspondence by the Department to the Board of the IPH. Since 2020, no instances of non-compliance have been recorded, no suspension of the funding it receives has been necessary and no independent audit of Governance from the Department has taken place in that time.

855. Reply not received from Department.

856. Reply not received from Department.

857. Reply not received from Department.