Iris Robinson MP MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
14 December 2007
Danny Kennedy, MLA
Chairperson
Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister
DRAFT PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2008 - 2011
- Thank you for your letter of 9 November 2007 inviting each Statutory Committee to put forward its views on the draft Programme for Government and the draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. I am sorry that the Committee has not been able to meet your deadline. However, the Committee wished to undertake as thorough a scrutiny as possible in the time available of both the draft budget and the Programme for Government and Investment Strategy in Northern Ireland.
Introduction
- The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety commenced its scrutiny of the implications for health, social services and public safety in the draft Budget, PFG, and ISNI with a briefing from Departmental officials at its meeting on 15 November 2007. This was followed by formal evidence from Professor Roy McClelland, Chairman of the Mental Health and Learning Disability Board, and from representatives of the four Health and Social Services Boards on 22 November 2007. The Committee concluded its formal evidence with a presentation from and discussion with the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 6 December 2007. A transcript of these evidence sessions will be published on the Committee website.
- In addition the Committee considered the draft Budget, PFG and ISNI at closed meetings on 15 November, 22 November, 29 November, 6 December and 13 December 2007. The Committee is grateful to all who gave evidence and would like to thank Professor Ciaran O’Neill, Health Economist, Queens University Belfast, for his advice and assistance to the Committee during its deliberations.
Draft Programme for Government
- The Committee welcomes the recognition in the draft Programme for Government that “the overall health status of our population needs urgent attention”. The draft Programme for Government draws attention to the higher than average mortality from heart disease, cancer and stroke, as well as the over-reliance on long-stay hospitals and limited services available in primary and community care for people with mental health and learning disabilities. The relatively poor state of health of the population in Northern Ireland was clearly identified in ‘A Healthier Future: A Twenty Year Vision for Health and Wellbeing in Northern Ireland 2005-2025’. The strategy also highlighted the higher rates of people with disabilities and mental health problems compared to GB.
- The Committee fully supports the principles set out in the draft Programme for Government and accepts the view of the Executive that growing the economy will be the top priority but is also conscious that building a strong economy will require a healthy workforce.
- The Committee believes that health and social care in Northern Ireland has been under funded for many years, particularly throughout the years of the troubles, despite an increased priority given to spending in DHSSPS in recent years by Direct Rule Ministers reflecting general UK trends. The Committee concurs with the view in the draft Budget that “one of the most significant issues facing this and future Executives will be the priority that should be given to health and social services compared to other public services”.
- The Committee welcomes the statement that “Given the importance of a healthy, well-educated and highly skilled population to the achievement of our strategic priorities, the spending committed to these areas over the three year period covered by this Programme for Government will be maintained at the same high level, rising to almost 70% of the total by 2010-11”.
- The Committee has concerns that, given the draft Budget outcome, targets relating to health and social care in the draft Programme for Government may not be met.
Draft Investment Strategy
- The Committee notes that future investment will be taken forward under six ‘pillars’ and welcomes the emphasis under the Health Pillar on providing investment in Primary and Community Care, Health and Care Centres, and Emergency Services.
- The Committee notes the establishment of a Capital Realisations Taskforce set up by the Executive to report before the draft budget and draft Investment Strategy are finalised. The Committee believes that the disposal of any surplus assets identified by the Taskforce could provide welcome additional capital funds for investment. The Committee will wish to pursue this issue with the Department in due course.