Vol. 511 No. 2
99 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will assign the moneys saved during the nurses' strike to a one-off subvention to special initiatives, for example, independent living accommodation or other needy capital projects which he has been unable to support due to resource constraints. [23940/99]
100 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the savings, if any, achieved by hospitals and health boards arising from the nurses' strike. [23942/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
As I explained in my reply to a question from Deputy Noonan on Thursday last, 11 November 1999, it is impossible at this stage to calculate the actual level of savings resulting from the recent nurses' strike since the strike itself gave rise to the health agencies incurring unscheduled but necessary expenditure in other areas, for example, payments for additional overtime worked by medical and other staff, in order to minimise the impact of the strike. These costs have to be set against the amount of nursing salaries unpaid during the strike. It remains my intention that any savings accruing will be used for patient care.
