Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
507. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regarding the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s Fiscal Assessment Report and their analysis of the Health allocation for 2024 (details supplied); his views on their analysis of the health allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56156/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of and has reviewed the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s latest Fiscal Assessment Report, including its analysis in relation to Health budget. While IFAC's report is produced independently of the Department of Health, its findings in relation to the demands on health expenditure, in particular in relation to demographic pressures and increased demand for health services, broadly align with my Department's own data and analysis.
As IFAC's report was published in December 2023, after discussions on Budget 2024 between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform had been concluded, the report did not form part of the engagement between the two Departments. However, the analysis provided by my Department to DPENDR as part of Budget 2024 discussions would have reflected a similar perspective to that expressed in the IFAC report.
