Vol. 566 No. 3
349 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the total insurance cost for each acute hospital in each health board area; the increase in this cost in each of the past three years; the specific allocation provided by his Department to each health board to fund this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12835/03]
The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department. Therefore, my Department has requested the chief executive officers of each health board-authority to furnish the information directly to the Deputy.
In the context of determining the health and children Estimate each year, the Department of Finance makes a provision for the likely effect of non-pay inflation using the consumer price index as a basis. This inflation factor is considered to compensate for increases in such items as insurance premiums.
