Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Public Accounts Committee

2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management

11:20 am

Mr. Robert Watt:

They are the significant ones. A separate report sets out the issues arising in respect of the HSE and its budget challenges. Members will be aware of the challenges. They include demand-led schemes in terms of medical cards and a 24-seven hospital system. It is difficult to budget with the type of accuracy sought but the HSE, the Department of Health and my Department accept the need to improve the budgeting process to ensure the variance is lower.