The Goverment has endorsed a radical restructuring of the health services at today's weekly Cabinet meeting.
The plan is based on a joint memorandum from the Departments of Health and Finance.
It aims to shift day-to-day control of the health services from the Department and health boards to a centralised Health Service Executive.
Four regional health offices will replace the eleven health boards, including the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
A National Hospitals Agency will take over the running of the country's hospitals.
Much of the plan is expected to be implemented within the next three years.
The Taoiseach told the Dail that the government will publish two of the three health reports tomorrow. He said that the third report has not yet been completed, but that it would be published as soon as it is ready.
The Minister for Health has been holding briefing sessions with senior officials from the Dept of Health and the Health Boards in Dublin this afternoon.
Micheal Martin has been outlining the details of the Government's proposed Health spending reform plan.
Already some Government backbenchers have criticised the plan; they say that it will end the local input into their health services.
Local councillors play a significant role in health boards, and membership is seen as an important part of a political career, both in terms of local influence and profile.
