Vol. 471 No. 2
86 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health whether chief executive officers in the eight health boards will in future have to give written guarantees to his Department to stay within their budgets; if he will acknowledge that all health boards have over-runs, particularly in demand-led schemes; if he will ensure that services will not be impaired in order to satisfy his Department's budget requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20533/96]
Limerick East): The Deputy will be aware that both Houses of the Oireachtas have passed the Health (Amendment) Bill, 1996. This legislation requires health boards to draw up a service plan within the notified financial determination and to maintain services and spending within the service plan and the determination. Under this legislation the chief executive officer is obliged to inform his or her health board and the Minister of any circumstance which might result in excess spending above the approved determination.
In relation to current spending within the health boards, my Department monitors expenditure on a monthly basis and is in continuous contact with the boards regarding service provision and spending. On the matter of what is regarded as demand-led schemes, my Department has an arrangement with the health boards and the Department of Finance whereby excesses on these schemes over the agreed budget are made good in a Supplementary Estimate Discussions on the Supplementary Estimate for 1996 are currently taking place between my Department and the Department of Finance.
In regard to services, sufficient funds have been made available to agencies to maintain approved levels of services during 1996.
