Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
39. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which any budgetary overruns have occurred throughout the health service; the precise areas which have shown such overruns; when any such overruns became obvious monthly or otherwise since January last; if any particular action is merited to address any such recurrences in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40055/13]
View answer260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which he and his Department continues to monitor expenditure overruns in all areas throughout the health service; the extent to which those areas most prone to such have been identified and the likely remedial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40295/13]
View answer261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department has curtailed expenditure overruns throughout the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40296/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 260 and 261 together.
There is ongoing and intensive engagement each month between officials of my Department and the HSE in the context of regular monitoring of expenditure. My Department also provides detailed analysis each month on expenditure trends to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and there is regular engagement between officials from that Department, my Department and the HSE. The HSE's Performance Report, which is published every month, provides an overall analysis of key performance data from Finance, HR, Hospital and Primary & Community Services. The activity data reported is based on Performance Activity and Key Performance Indicators outlined in the HSE National Service Plan. The June Performance Report, which is the most recent report available, is published on the HSE's website - www.hse.ie
Based on the most recent review of financial data, the HSE is not flagging any new concerns beyond those which were set out within the National Service Plan 2013 (NSP) as approved by me in January this year.
The projected outlook, as set out in the June Performance Report, is indicating a projected deficit of €104m in direct services, of which €75m is in Hospitals. Outside of this, the primary risks lie in PCRS, Child & Family Agency, PHI Legislation and the Haddington Road Agreement.
Cost containment plans are under review. The Executive is pro-actively engaged on internal efforts to address slippage in cost containment plans and to ensure that additional measures are identified and safely implemented to mitigate the projected deficits which are within HSE direct control, while engaging on an ongoing basis with my Department. The Chief Financial Officer has informed me that a number of site visits are underway, particularly where underperformance has been identified.
