Committee of Public Accounts to examine HSE’s 2022 Financial Statements

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and representatives of the HSE led by the CEO Bernard Gloster, who is the Accounting Officer and is accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The HSE provides, or funds the provision of, all of Ireland's public health services in hospitals and communities across the State. Expenditure by the HSE has grown rapidly in recent years, but this has been distorted by exceptional spending in the last three years in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The bulk of the HSE’s income comes from grant funding provided from Vote 38 Health and the National Service Plan outlines the health and social care services that will be provided nationwide within the budget allocation. In 2022, the HSE's expenditure was just over €23.4 billion, which is eight per cent higher than in 2021.

“The C&AG has drawn attention to several issues in the audit report on the 2022 financial statements: losses of €94.4 million on write-off of Covid vaccine stocks; exceptional salary payments to certain staff; recurrent high level of non-compliant procurement; and a deterioration in the oversight of Section 38 And 39 bodies.

“Other areas of interest for the Committee include the Dental Treatment Purchase Fund and the leasing of ambulances by the HSE. Members look forward to discussing the HSE’s 2022 financial statements and related matters with Mr Gloster and his colleagues.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.