HSE Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2015

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Questions (65)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

65. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Health Service Executive’s financial position; the net current deficit of the executive against profile at the end of June 2015; if additional expenditures announced for free general practitioner care and to tackle overcrowding in emergency departments in hospitals are reflected in this; the latest projection for the overall deficit in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27657/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The April Health Service Performance Report, the latest published, shows year to date net expenditure of €4.116 billion against a profile of €3.980 billion, leading to a variance of €136m. The acute hospital sector is reporting a deficit of €61m, which represents 45% of the overall deficit; PCRS and Local Schemes account for €39m; and Social Care is reporting a deficit of €9m. There are smaller variances across other programmes.

In Vote terms the HSE related subheads are approximately €45m over profile at end June.

Free GP Care had not commenced at end April and is therefore not reflected in the above figures. Additional costs associated with addressing Emergency Department overcrowding are reflected in the position to date.

Given the uncertainty around certain expenditure areas it is too early to be definitive as to the overall deficit in 2015.