The abolition of health boards moved a step closer today after the Minister for Health and Children. Mr Martin, handed power to run the eleven boards to their respective chief executives.
Today Mr Martin signed the order giving affect to the Health (Amendment) Bill, 2004, which formally relieves the members of the regional health boards and the three area health boards administered by the Eastern Regional Health Authority of their duties.
The board members' functions will now be assumed by the chief executive officers in the next step towards the establishment of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
However, further legislation will be needed to establish the HSE as a single entity to administrate the State's entire health service. This Bill is expected before the Oireachtas towards the end of the year.
Mr Martin today said the move was a "further indication of this Government's commitment to the delivery of a reformed health service".
The reform was announced last June on the basis of recommendations contained in the Brennan report and the Prospectus report.