Pádraic McCormack
Question:136 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health the reason no allocation has been made to the Western Health Board from the £20 million fund to reduce waiting lists.
Written Answers. - Western Health Board Allocation.
No decisions have yet been taken on the allocation of the £20 million approved by the Government for the major action programme to reduce waiting times. My Department will be in touch with each health board, including the Western Health Board, and other agencies in the coming weeks. A planned approach is being adopted to ensure that the extra resources will only be provided where satisfactory output targets have been agreed in advance with my Department.
The performance of hospitals will be monitored to ensure that the agreed increased activity targets are being achieved. Where targets are not met the funding will be clawed back and redirected to other agencies.
I am confident that considerable progress can be made this year in alleviating the most pressing problems throughout the country.