Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
71 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the latest ESRI report by a person (details supplied) which suggests that Ireland is still spending below the EU average on health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26350/04]
View answerI am aware of the recent article published by the ESRI to which the Deputy refers. It concludes that when current and capital spending are aggregated, OECD data places Irish public spending per capita at 101.4% of the EU average in 2002.
The author has indicated that in her view if all community welfare programme and disability programme spending were excluded to make Irish figures more comparable to that of other EU countries, the Irish per capita spend for 2002 would be below the EU average at 96%. However the figure of 101.4% quoted above was based on figures agreed between my Department and the OECD and is therefore the best comparator available at present.
