Vol. 411 No. 7
173 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make the necessary funding available to the Southern Health Board in order to avoid the loss of 150 jobs in the board over the next number of months which will result in a serious deterioration in the health services in the Cork area region.
Since December 1988, approved staffing levels in the Southern Health Board have increased from 6,074 to 6,290 at December 1990 and to 6,327 at present. This represents an increase of 253 posts over that period arising from various developments of service.
My Department have been in regular contact with all agencies, including the Southern Health Board, throughout the current year and has continuously impressed on them the absolute necessity to operate services within approved financial budgets and the corresponding approved employment levels which I have already referred to. While the majority of agencies have been able to manage their affairs within approved employment parameters, it is necessary for a minority to make adjustments to do so.
In accordance with the undertakings which I announced in the House last February in relation to the maintenance of agreed levels of health services in 1991, the non-capital allocations of health boards will be adjusted to take account of approved increases in expenditure, including pay, increases in the rates of allowances and certain services-related items. Health boards are now generally aware of the order of these adjustments.
