Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 6

Written Answers - Health Board Funding.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

13 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the overall revenue spending outturn for the health boards in 2002; the way in which that figure compares for each of the health boards with the original budget allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6685/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Each year agency determinations are increased for issues arising during the year, mainly for technical issues, pay, demand led issues etc. The following table compares 2002 outturn with the revised determinations approved.

The revised determinations for health boards-authority for 2002 amounted to €6,809 million. The projected outturns show that overall health boards-authority net expenditure for 2002 is €6,835 million. This is the latest figure available to me. The final position will not be known until the annual financial statements of health boards-authority are completed by 31 March.

The revised determinations and projected outturns for each health board-authority are set out in the following table:

Agency	RevisedDetermination	Projected outturn	Variance	% of Budget
	€m	€m	€m	%
Eastern Regional Health Authority	2,844.341	2,879.341	35.0	1.23
Midland Health Board	352.146	352.146	Nil	Nil
Mid-Western Health Board	499.654	495.154	(4.5)	(0.9)
North Eastern Health Board	479.200	479.200	Nil	Nil
North Western Health Board	420.354	422.354	2.0	0.48
South Eastern Health Board	616.443	613.943	(2.5)	(0.41)
Southern Health Board	913.919	915.419	1.5	0.16
Western Health Board	682.447	677.047	(5.4)	(0.79)
Total	6,808.504	6,834.604	26.1	0.38

The overall outturn of 0.38% variation reflects a very favourable result given the ever increasing demands on the system. The 1996 accountability legislation provides for a first charge reflecting excess expenditure to be set off against the following year's, budget as a disciplinary measure so that health agencies plan their service delivery within approved expenditure limits. The result is particularly good when one considers that health inflation is such a significant element in the day-to-day cost of providing services. It is generally understood that health inflation is running at about twice that of ordinary inflation. Ordinary inflation, as reported through the consumer price index, was in the region of 5% throughout 2002.

In 2002 health boards-authority provided a 4.8% productivity increase in acute hospital services which accounts for about 50% of budget. The estimated number of patients discharged as in-patients or day cases in 2002 is estimated at about 963,000. This is a record level of productivity and continues a trend of increasing and record activity levels in our acute hospitals.