The Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, has asked the HSE to come up with an action plan to improve conditions at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

“I expect the HSE to implement and action to plan to address the findings of the report without delay, and certainly by the end of the year,” Mr varadkar said.

Mr Varadkar has ordered the plan after the release of last week's HIQA report into conditions there.

The report outlined major problems at the hospital's maternity unit, and slammed the HSE as being disorganised on an unprecedented scale.

Speaking in the Dáil tonight, Leo Varadkar says he expects changes within 12 months - but some have been made already.

“Improvements have been made and will continue to be made at the hospital,” he said.

“New management and governance structures, both clinical and operational are in place, including new hospital manager and a director of midwifery for the first time and an on-site risk manager for the first time,” he added.

Mr Varadkar also confirmed earleir today that he will meet the families affected at the hospital tomorrow.

The meeting will take place in Portlaoise as part of a visit by the minister to the hospital.

Earlier today, the chief executive of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group says the maternity hospital in Portlaoise is now safe.

Dr Susan O'Reilly says there are a number of new resources and experts at the Midland Regional Hospital, since the publication of a highly critical HIQA report last week. 

The report outlined a string of failures by hospital management in improving conditions, as well as cases where bereaved mothers were presented with their children's remains in tin boxes.

Dr O'Reilly told Newstalk Lunchtime she is confident that the hospital is now safe.