Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 6

Written Answers. - Health Boards' and Voluntary Hospitals' Moneys.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

76 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health the value of authorised cheques drawn in each health board and the major voluntary hospitals and not issued due to a shortage of cash at 30 April 1991; and the steps he proposes to take to ensure that this problem will not recur.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The value of payments held by the health boards at 26 April 1991, the last date in April for which figures are available, was £28.6 million. The breakdown of the figures is as follows:

Health Board	£ million
Eastern	12.5
Midland	2.6
Mid-Western	2.6
North-Eastern	1.4
North-Western	0
South-Eastern	4.6
Southern	4.9
Western	0
	28.6

As I have pointed out before to the Deputy the timing of issue of creditors' payments is a matter for each individual agency to decide. In considering the above figure the amount outstanding to creditors on any particular date is related to the timing of payments rather than an indication of financial performance. The information relating to all voluntary hospitals is not readily available. However, it is estimated that the amount involved for the major voluntary hospitals would be about £5.5 million.