Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 6

Written Answers. - Southern Health Board Budget.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

101 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the Southern Health Board is spending its budget in an equitable manner between counties Kerry and Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

My Department makes final allocation available to the Southern Health Board on an annual basis for the provision of services within its region. It is a matter for the Board to determine how resources should be allocated.

A health board does not allocate funds on a geographcal basis. The allocation is divided between the service programmes, normally, the general hospitals, the special hospitals, community care and central services. The funds allocated to each programme are based on a number of factors such as the range and complexity of services provided, the size of the catchment area covered and the priority rating attached to particular services.

Inevitably, where there are competing demands for scarce resources, health agencies including the Southern Health Board, must make difficult choices about the allocation of funds for particular services and I am satisfied that they do this in a manner which is in the best interests of the general public. I am not aware of any inequity in the allocation of resources for health services between Cork and Kerry, having regard to the criteria which are generally applied in the distribution of available resources between programmes.