Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
601. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the cumulative amount of funding removed from his Department and Health Service Executive budgets since 2009, in view of the fact that he recently reported to Dáil Éireann that those budgets are €1.5 billion lower in 2015 than they were up to 2009; and his estimate of the amount of funding necessary to end all waiting lists greater than three months by the end of 2017. [14643/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAfter accounting for the transfer of Child and Family Services to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2013, the combined reduction in funding to the Department and HSE between 2009 and 2014 amounted to €1.769 billion in gross vote terms. Of this figure, €1.479 billion related to the reduction in funding to the HSE.
Since my appointment as Minister for Health my key priority has been to achieve a realistic budget for health and social care services. Improved 2015 budgetary parameters, reflecting the growing strength of the Irish economy, have enabled me to secure additional funds for the delivery of health and social care services this year. The HSE will have €635 million more available in 2015 than was provided in the original budget for 2014. This is made up of additional Exchequer funding of €305 million and projected once-off revenues of €330 million.
It is not currently possible to estimate with any appropriate degree of accuracy the amount of funding required to end all waiting lists greater than 3 months by the end of 2017. The amount required will be significantly influenced by the implementation this year of plans to address waiting lists in line with the Minister's targets. Only when the impact of the implementation of these plans is clear towards the end of this year will it be reasonable to estimate with an appropriate degree of accuracy the resources that may be required.
