The HSE Board is accountable to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
It oversees the HSE on a national level. It is our senior decision-making body and has a series of responsibilities including strategic direction and delivery, risk assessment, and developing the vision and culture of the organisation.
The Health Act 2004 allows the Board to give any HSE jobs, in writing, to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) only. The board gives the CEO almost all the HSE's jobs, but it keeps some important tasks for itself. These tasks, called "reserved functions," can only be done by the board.
The Board’s main areas of work include:
- business planning and monitoring
- running the HSE according to agreed performance standards
- making recommendations about what decisions can be delegated
- financial guidance
- encouraging dialogues between the HSE and government departments, arm’s length bodies, other organisations and the communities the HSE supports
The Board Strategic Scorecard (BSS) is the Board’s main tool for oversight of the health service. It is part of the CEO’s Report submitted for each monthly Board meeting. It is also shared with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It aims to provide the Board with a monthly report on progress against key programmes and priorities.
HSE Board
The HSE Board members bring a range of skills and experience in health policy, governance and finance to guide the HSE.
They are appointed by the Minister for Health after consultation with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
These are:
- Ciarán Devane, Chair
- Tim Hynes
- Aogán Ó Fearghall
- Dr Yvonne Traynor
- Brendan Whelan
- Anne Carrigy
- Michelle O’Sullivan
- Matt Walsh
Committees of the board
From 2019 to 2024 the HSE Board had established the following committees however, these are now being reviewed and the committees are not currently meeting:
- Audit and Risk
- People and Culture
- Planning and Performance
- Safety and Quality
- Technology and Transformation
Each committee has an appointed Chairperson, and includes members and non-members of the Board.