To ask the Minister of Health for an update on reform of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, including the appointment of key staff and board members and its functions.

RQIA’s restructuring into three operational Directorates is well underway with three Directors appointed on a permanent basis. RQIA’s Chief Executive was appointed in July 2021, followed by a Director of Hospital Services, Independent Healthcare, Reviews and Audit Programmes and a Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability, Children’s Services Prison Healthcare appointments in December 2021. A Director of Adult Care Services was appointed in January 2022

The public appointments process for RQIA's Non-Executive board members is underway and appointments are anticipated during this coming year. The RQIA Board is operating its committees including its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee with proper arrangements for risk management and financial management in place. RQIA is functioning as a properly constituted arms length body of the Department of Health, with appropriate accountability arrangements in place, including mechanisms for internal and external audit.