The Government is planning to establish separate ministerial offices with responsibility for mental health and older people to improve the co-ordination of policy in these areas.
The Cabinet is expected to approve the establishment of two separate offices shortly, which would have their own staff seconded from a number of Government departments.
Senior civil servants are likely to be appointed as director generals of the offices, while responsibility will rest with the two Ministers of State in these areas - Minister of State for Disability and Mental Health, Dr Jimmy Devins, and Minister of State for Older People, Máire Hoctor.
The move follows what is seen by many as the successful establishment of the Office of the Minister for Children, which has helped to co-ordinate policies relating to young people, such as early childhood care, education and youth justice, which were previously split between several departments. The office is also playing a key role in the planned referendum on children.
As with the Office of the Minister for Children, the two proposed offices would be based within the Department of Health.
The Office of the Minister for Children is headed up by a senior civil servant, Sylda Langford, who was formerly assistant secretary with the Department of Justice. Minister of State for Children Brendan Smith gives the office a voice at Cabinet.
It is unlikely, however, that the two new offices will have direct access to Cabinet meetings. The two new offices are likely to play a key role in new policies which are due to be launched this year or which are being implemented.
The Office for Disability and Mental Health is likely to focus on implementing the Government's blueprint for mental health services, A Vision for Change. Patient groups, doctors, psychiatrists and health professionals have criticised the Government and health authorities over the slow pace at which the policy is being implemented.
In the area of older people, new standards for nursing homes will be introduced over the coming year and a Nursing Homes Support Bill, known as the "fair deal" on nursing home care, is due to be introduced before the Dáil shortly.