Paddy McHugh
Ceist:1033 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if staff reductions in the Western Health Board area will involve a reduction in the number of people providing home help. [15992/02]
Written Answers. - Health Expenditure Cutbacks.
Paddy McHugh
Ceist:1034 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will intervene to find a solution to the difference of opinion between officials in the Western Health Board and officials in his Department regarding the number of staff reductions to be implemented in the Western Health Board area; if his attention has been drawn to the distress the uncertainty is causing to people in the region who are the recipients of care from the health board; if steps will be taken so that no reduction in service occurs to the people in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15997/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1033 and 1034 together.
In mid-July last my Department advised each health board of a range of measures to be taken to ensure that health expenditure in 2002 remained consistent with the approved levels for the year. In this context, the Western Health Board was requested to achieve savings of €1.15 million from an adjustment in planned employment growth. All the health boards were informed by my Department that the adjustment in employment growth was to be undertaken in a way so as to have minimum impact on new and existing services. As responsibility for the precise measures to be taken to yield the planned result in service and cost terms rests with the chief executive officer of each health board, my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to investigate the matters raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.