asked the Minister for Health the action that he has taken or proposes to take to ensure that in the present period of cutbacks in the provision for the running of health services that the funds will be so applied as to ensure adequate maintenance of the various health premises.
Written Answers. - Cutbacks in Health Services.
197.
I consider it desirable to allow health boards and other health agencies the maximum degree of flexibility in the management of the non-capital resources made available to them from year to year. Accordingly it has been the practice to determine annual overall non-capital allocations for the agencies and to leave the fixing of budgets for the various areas of expenditure with the agencies themselves subject to their complying with such broad policy directives as may be issued. I have no doubt that health agencies will act in a responsible manner in determining the budgets for maintenance programmes.