Mattie McGrath
Question:1194. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the total spending and the breakdown of spending on the Covid-19 response since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42073/21]
View answerThursday, 9 September 2021
Questions (1194)
Written answers
COVID-19 Expenditure 2020
The budget allocation for spending on COVID-19 measures by the Department of Health through the HSE in 2020 was €2,511m (comprising €2,291m current and €220m capital).
The HSE’s allocation for COVID-19 measures in 2020 of €2,511m included: €920m for personal protective equipment; €330m for private hospital capacity; €292m for COVID-19 testing & contact tracing; €190m for acute hospitals; €140m for GP services; €80m for the Temporary Payment Assistance Scheme for private nursing homes; €76m for payment of student nurses and medical interns; €45m for accommodation and isolation facilities; €218m for other current measures including community costs, disability services, hospices, the National Ambulance Service and other miscellaneous supports; and €220m for capital measures including €125m for buildings and related equipment, €45m for other equipment, €32m for ventilators and €18m for ICT.
The actual COVID-19 related expenditure incurred in 2020 was in line with these budget allocations.
COVID-19 Expenditure 2021
The budget allocation for spending on COVID-19 measures by the Department of Health through the HSE in 2021 is €1,831m (comprising €1,676m current and €155m capital). In addition to this allocation, a contingency fund of €240m held by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is available to be re-allocated to the HSE for COVID-related measures if required, bringing the total funding available to the HSE in 2021 to €2,071m. A further amount of €50m has been allocated to the Department of Health for non-HSE related COVID expenditure in 2021, bringing the total allocation for all COVID-related measures in 2021 to €2,121m.
The HSE’s allocation for COVID-19 measures in 2021 of €1,831m includes: €450m for personal protective equipment; €200m for the COVID vaccination programme; €445m for testing & contact tracing (excluding €205m available from DPER contingency if required); €210m for the Access to Care Fund; €42m for the Temporary Payment Assistance Scheme for private nursing homes; €329m for other current measures including home care, mental health supports, disability services, cancer restoration services, homelessness services, GP costs, hospices and infection prevention & control; and €155m for capital measures includes €130m for building, equipping and furnishing of health facilities and €25m for ICT.
An estimate of the actual COVID-19 related expenditure incurred by the HSE in 2021 to date is reported regularly to the Department. The latest estimated weekly expenditure data to 6 August 2021 indicates that of the HSE's €1,831m COVID allocation, the spend to date is as follows: €173m for personal protective equipment; €177m for the COVID vaccination programme (spend to end June); €357m for testing & contact tracing; €86m for the Private Hospital Safety Net 2 Agreement; €40m for the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme to support private nursing homes; €23m for Infection Prevention & Control; €408m for other current measures including acute hospitals supports, home care, mental health supports, disability services, cancer restoration services, homelessness services, GP costs, hospices; and €65m for capital costs. As noted, these figures are estimates of expenditure based on the latest available information which is subject to change.
The non-HSE related allocation of €50m for COVID measures held by the Department includes: €30m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; €10m for costs related to the ePassenger Locator Form; €5.0m for the Healthy Ireland programme; and €5.0m for HIQA’s Nursing Home Expert Review in relation to the COVID-19 response. The Department incurred costs of approximately €9m to end June 2021. The contingency fund of €240m held by DPER has not yet been drawn down.