asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the need for a further reduction in the level of service provided by each health board in the current year as a result of insufficient funding; and if he has advised them what particular services should be reduced or eliminated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Boards' Funding.
36.
As the Deputy is aware, the health boards have been notified of the approved non-capital allocation levels for 1986 based on the overall resources provided for the health services for that year. The budgetary strategy for 1986 must be determined in the context of the available level of funds. I have advised health boards to secure reductions in expenditure as far as possible in payroll costs associated with institutional services and to protect community care programmes including services for the old and the housebound and child care services. I am aware of the problems facing health boards in achieving both budgetary and services objectives in 1986. Detailed discussions between officers of my Department and of the health boards in regard to the situation are in progress.
In view of the fact that the Minister is aware of the problems facing the health boards — there is a £6 million deficit in the South Eastern Health Board and £3.6 million in the Western Health Board — why has the Minister ceased to meet with the chairman and CEOs of the health boards to discuss that allocation with them? Will he have a meeting with them in the near future in view of the serious situation, which he says he recognises?
I have ongoing meetings with them. Officers from the Department of Health meet with the health boards, the CEOs and the programme managers. These meetings have been going on for the past week and are continuing in the coming week. They will be meeting the North Western Health Board next Friday. When the need arises I will willingly meet the chairman and the officers, but I will not allow myself to be subjected to political abuse in that process.