The original allocations issued to the health agencies included significant additional provisions in respect of the full year cost implications of service initiatives commenced in 1991 in acute hospitals at St. James's, Ardkeen, Wexford, Sligo and Letterkenny, and in respect of child care services. Funding has also been provided for further service improvements in 1992 including:
—development of cardiac and cardiology services at Crumlin and Cork Regional hospitals;
—development of neurosurgery services at Beaumont;
—improvements in a range of other acute hospital services including ENT, orthopaedics, liver transplants, metabolics, oncology and anaesthetics at various sites throughout the country;
—improvements in geriatric services at the Meath and Mater Hospitals as recommended in the Kennedy report;
—enhanced services for the mentally handicapped.
Funding in respect of these developments has already been allocated on foot of prior discussions with the agencies.
Discussions with health agencies regarding the utilisation of further resources, including the additional sums announced in the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance, are in progress.