Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

114 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which spending in the first six months of 2002 compares to the budgeted profile for spending under each major programme of health spending; and his forecasts for year end overruns. [14103/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Information is not currently available in relation to the first six months of the year. The reporting arrangements for the health boards require them to submit integrated management reports on a monthly basis, these reports being due on the 25 of the month following that to which they refer. As a result, the most recent expenditure information is in relation to April.

Below is a table outlining excess expenditure over budget by the ERHA and the health boards by programme to the end of April.

Description	ERHA€m	MHB€m	MWHB€m	NEHB€m	NWHB€m	SEHB€m	SHB€m	WHB€m	Total€m	% ofBudget
Acute Hospitals	39.929	1.420	1.952	6.013	1.412	2.780	3.335	7.916	57.757	2.842%
Community Services	-4.299	0.815	1.085	0.205	1.872	0.959	3.994	1.452	6.083	0.299%
Special Hospitals	-2.718	1,932	-0.433	0.269	0.455	0.441	1.105	0.651	1.702	0.084%
Central Services	-1.418	-2.509	-0.433	-0.519	0.629	1.130	1.896	1.346	0.122	0.006%
Total	24.494	1.658	2.171	5.968	4.368	5.310	10.330	11.365	65.664	3.231%

The spending to April is some 3% in excess of the period budget. Some upward adjustment of the budget is due when the half year review of the waiting list initiative and bed capacity initiative is completed. In addition, some further adjustments on the pay side are likely following clearance of pay award costings. All of these issues will have the result of lowering the reported excess, though it is not clear at this stage what the precise value of this reduction will be. When comparing the expenditure pattern to that recorded in 2001 for the same period, the increase over budget in 2001 was 5%. The year end result for 2001, based on the unaudited accounts, shows an overall excess of €8 million or 115% on approved spending levels.

The Department, together with the authority and health boards, is continually reviewing the expenditure outcomes in order to manage both the financial and service delivery aspects presenting. It should be mentioned that acute hospital output has recorded increases of 10% in day case activity and 2% in respect of all discharges in 2002 over 2001. I am confident that, as demonstrated in 2001, the ERHA and health boards will succeed in managing their overall financial affairs within the limits as approved for 2002.