merrion street

Minister for Health Simon Harris welcomes the commencement of the campaign to select members for appointment to the HSE Board. 

The Public Appointments Service will oversee this process. Details of how to apply for these positions are available on the Stateboards.ie website.

The process begins as the Minister introduces the legislation to establish the HSE board in the Seanad. 

The Minister said:

The establishment of a HSE Board is a major step in implementing the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government. It should help to strengthen governance in the HSE and help with oversight of the delivery of a world-class health and social care service for Ireland as envisaged in the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare Sláintecare Report.

The enactment of legislation to establish an independent Board for the HSE is a priority. The Board will be the governing body of the HSE and will be responsible for strengthening governance, oversight and performance of the HSE.

Following a Public Appointment Service campaign, the Minister has appointed Mr Ciarán Devane as Chairperson of the Board and he will be responsible for leadership of the HSE Board and will play a key role in establishing the Board governance structures and ensuring their effective and cohesive operation. 

Mr Devane will play a central role in assessing the applications of candidates who express an interest in becoming members of the Board. Members will need to provide strong support to the Chair during the forthcoming period of complex change within the HSE. 

Notes to the Editor

The HSE is a statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Health, charged with the provision of a wide range of health and social services. The HSE has a budget of €14.5 billion in 2018. The public health service has over 110,000 staff in whole time equivalent terms and is the largest employer in the country. The HSE is among the most important public bodies in the State, with an essential role in meeting the health needs of the population and delivering on the Government’s ambition of improving population health and the health services. 

Currently the activities within the HSE are managed by a Directorate, but Government’s view is that a Board governance structure, with strong competencies across key areas, will be a key component in strengthening HSE governance and will contribute to strengthening the oversight and performance of the HSE. The Board will be accountable to the Minister for the performance of its functions. 

Priority issues for the new Board will include: 

• developing and implementing an effective performance management and accountability system in the HSE 
• developing a plan for building public trust and confidence in the HSE and the wider health service 
• ensuring the HSE’s full support for and implementation of the Government’s programme of health reform as set out in the Sláintecare Implementation Plan.