Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 7

Written Answers. - North-Eastern Health Board Funding.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

15 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm that the North-Eastern Health Board receive the lowest per capita funding of any area in the country; if so, if he will outline the reason for this; the plans, if any, he has to redress this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

Expenditure per capita on health services is lowest in the North-Eastern Health Board area. I would point out, however, that expenditure per head of population is an unweighted average and fails to take account of a number of important demographic and geographic factors. The difference in the cost of health care in each region is also influenced by other factors such as access to higher specialties, density of population and the present stage of development of the services.

It should also be noted that, since a reply to a similar question from the Deputy was given in October, 1991, the difference between the North-Eastern Health Board and the board with the highestper capita spending has narrowed from £200 to £156. The estimated average per capita expenditure in all health boards in 1992 is £467, as compared to £407 under the North-Eastern Health Board. It is likely that developments which are now being planned by the North-Eastern Health Board in co-operation with my Department will bring that board's level of services and expenditure in closer alignment with the average expenditure for all Health Boards over the next few years.