Ireland's health board chief executives are to stay on until the middle of next year to help with the transition to a new health system.
RTÉ News has learned that the development follows a request today from the chairman of the interim Health Service Executive, Kevin Kelly, at a meeting with the chief executives.
The CEOs were asked to help ensure continuity and stability in the transition and all have agreed to remain on.
The Health Service Executive is due to take over from the country's health boards from 1 January next. However, the legislation allowing for this has yet to be published.
The CEOs will report directly to Mr Kelly and many will remain in their existing offices to help identify and manage problems in their regions.
