Vol. 369 No. 1
asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether the commercial banks have been called on to fund the health services for the remainder of the year; if this was a new departure in Government policy; the concessions which have been made to the banks in return for financing the health services; and the cost to the Exchequer.
296.
asked the Minister for Health the financial arrangements which have been made to ensure that health boards and health agencies will be able to continue to fund their health service until the end of 1986.
298.
asked the Minister for Health the amount of money the health boards and health agencies intend to borrow to meet their commitments to the end of 1986.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 296, and 298 together.
The borrowing requirements of health boards and health agencies fluctuate from day to day, being influenced by a number of variable interlocking factors.
It is envisaged that the existing arrangements for funding health agencies will be adequate to meet their cash flow needs during the remainder of the current year. The sources of funds for this purpose are grants payable from the Health Vote, income from sources such as payments for maintenance in private and semi-private accommodation and short term overdraft accommodation. The level of cash flow needs of an agency is also influenced by balances of funds on hands.
The cash flow needs of health agencies are kept under constant surveillance by my Department. In the case of health boards there is a cash management system in operation under which their cash needs are assessed at weekly intervals, based on relevant data supplied by the boards, and the grant payments by the Department during the week ahead are determined.
