Health Research Board

The Health Research Group (HRG) was established in May 2007 to co-ordinate heath research at national level. The HRG is chaired by the Department of Health and Children, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment co-chairs the group. The secretariat is provided by the DoHC with the HRB and Forfás providing research support. Members include representatives from government departments (Health and Children, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Environment and Local Government, Agriculture and Food, Education and Science) and from state agencies with an active interest in health research (HRB, HSE, HIQA, HEA, SFI, IDA, EI and EPA). Click here for members of the HRG.

The HRG is one of three sub committees reporting to the Inter-Departmental Committee on Science and Technology (IDC), along with the Higher Education Research Group (HERG) and Technology Ireland. The IDC in turn reports to the Cabinet Sub Committee on Science and Technology.

The HRG provides a much needed mechanism for co-ordinating policy at national level under the direction of the DOHC. Broadly the HRG was set up:

1. To advise the IDC on the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive health research strategy
2. To work closely with appropriate enterprise development agencies and key stakeholders in the health sector in the formulation of its proposal
3. To facilitate a coherent cross-departmental and cross-agency approach on issues relating to health research.

Click here for the terms of reference of the Health Research Group.