asked the Minister for Health the total unauthorised deficits of the Irish voluntary hospitals; and if these deficits will be met by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voluntary Hospitals Deficits.
106.
Up to 31st March last, when the deficits system of financing the voluntary hospitals ceased, accumulated sums of approximately £1.0 million had been spent by those hospitals on items for which requisite approvals had not been obtained.
I have had the position generally under review. Officers of my Department will be contacting the authorities of the hospitals with a view to arranging meetings to discuss the expenditures which the Hospitals Commission recommended should not be allowed for grant recoupment purposes. According as the position in individual hospitals is fully reviewed, they will be informed of the extent to which grant recoupment can now be made.
In so far as the future is concerned it will be an essential feature of the financing system that expenditure by hospitals should be related to approved budgets.