(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate adequate finances to the Mid-Western Health Board to enable them to provide a proper health service in the region.
Written Answers. - Health Board Allocation.
552.
I have approved a non-capital allocation of £75.480 million for the Mid-Western Health Board for 1985 in respect of its direct expenditure, including its share of the expenses of the General Medical Services (Payments) Board. This compares with a corresponding allocation of £71.820 million for 1984 and represents an increase of 5.1 per cent on the 1984 figure.
The 1985 non-capital allocation for the Mid-Western Health Board and for other health boards was determined on an equitable basis within the limits of the Exchequer provision for health services for that year and associated Government decisions as regards specific measures to be implemented to achieve reductions in expenditure or increases in income.
I have advised health boards repeatedly as to the necessity to draw up a detailed plan setting out the precise measures selected by them to ensure that expenditure is contained within approved allocation levels. Regrettably the Mid-Western Health Board has not so far approved of and implemented appropriate measures to secure essential reductions in expenditure.
Delay in tackling the budgetary situation realistically will inevitably give rise to more serious problems later in the year and in future years. I appreciate the difficulties that must be overcome in the context of restricted budgets and, in recognition of this, and in order to assist health boards to the extent that it is possible for me to do so, I have, as announced today, decided, with the agreement of the Minister for Finance, to allow the boards to retain fully amounts collected from farmers in respect of arrears of health contributions. In effect this will mean that health boards' approved 1985 allocations may be increased pro rata with arrears of health contributions collected.
There are no additional funds at my disposal which would enable me to provide further financial help for health boards in regard to the financing of their on-going services. I would, therefore, exhort the Mid-Western Health Board and other health boards who have still to resolve fully their 1985 budgetary situation, to give top priority to this essential and unavoidable task.