Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2014
174. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive reported a net deficit of €158 million in its Vote at the end of August; if so, the actual extent of the deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34888/14]
View answerThe Vote for the HSE is reporting a net current deficit of €361 million at the end of August. The overspend is mainly attributable to the following areas of health spending:
- The statutory and voluntary hospital sector.
- PCRS and community schemes; and
- Payments to the State Claims Agency.
There is ongoing and intensive engagement each month between officials of my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE in the context of regular monitoring of expenditure. The HSE is pro-actively engaged in internal efforts to maximise savings to mitigate the projected deficits. However, it is clear that supplementary funding will be required to support the services during 2014.
