James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I am very pleased to take the opportunity to update the House on the HSE national service plan 2012. In particular, I wish to outline the steps taken by my Department and the HSE to mitigate the impact of budget cuts on front-line service delivery, and to set out my health reform priorities for 2012.

There is no doubt that 2012 will be the latest in a series of immensely challenging years for the health service. The €750 million savings target for 2012 follows €1.75 billion of savings in the past two years. Staff numbers will also reduce significantly in the coming months. These reductions are happening at a time when demand for services is ever-increasing. Despite these challenges, my commitment to developing a single-tier health service, which guarantees access to medical care based on need rather than income, remains resolute. Delivering on this commitment means that reform is no longer just an option but an essential requirement for all involved in health service provision.

The HSE service plan which I approved on 30 January sets out the health and personal social services that will be delivered by the HSE within the current budget of €13.317 billion. The plan reflects the programme for Government commitments for health and the savings targets set out in the comprehensive-----

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