Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
374 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will set up an inquiry into the reason the Mid-Western Health Board had a surplus of €13.5 million in 2003 despite the fact that patients were forced to wait in trolleys in many accident and emergency departments in the mid-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5740/04]
View answerThe provisional outturn for the Mid-Western Health Board for 2003 is €543.7 million, giving a surplus of €13.3 million. This is provisional as the final figures for 2003 will not be available until the annual financial statements have been prepared and submitted for audit by 1 April next.
The 1996 accountability legislation requires health boards to transfer a deficit or a surplus for the preceeding year to the following year. Accordingly, the Mid-Western Health Board has included such surplus funding in its service plan-budget for 2004 and this plan has been passed by its board.
Following on from meetings with health boards on 2004 service plans, Department officials met with some health boards to discuss issues arising and requiring follow-up. In relation to those boards which recorded surpluses at the end of 2003, discussions covered the background to the financial outcome and intended use of such once-off funding in 2004.
