Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a fair question. This came to light last May in respect of the governance of Tallaght hospital. Following the information I have given to Deputy Martin, the Minister for Health ordered an internal audit in respect of all the section 38 hospitals and agencies involved. As I have already indicated, today is the closing day for the receipt of return information following the internal audit, with a very clear letter having been sent to each of the chief executives.

Deputy Adams is aware that there is clearly a difference between HSE-run hospitals and voluntary hospitals. The HSE knows what it is paying chief executives in respect of all the HSE hospitals, and these payments are strictly in compliance with the public pay service agreements. In regard to voluntary hospitals under the section 38 arrangement, the HSE has a contract with each of these agencies. It is only appropriate that the Minister and the HSE should have at their disposal the truth in the information as requested twice by the HSE to each of the agencies involved. I hope the report can be published quickly, furnished to the Minister, put up on the public website and discussed in the Oireachtas.

The position is very clear. The Minister and the HSE have made it clear to the agencies that they are not entitled to have unapproved non-Exchequer funding used as a top-up arrangement which breaches the public pay service agreement. The letter quite clearly states:

Section 38 providers should provide written confirmation to the HSE that:-

1. Remuneration payable is in accordance with the Department of Health consolidated salary scales.

2. Non-Exchequer sources of funding are not used to exceed approved rates of remuneration.

3. The payment of all unsanctioned payments has ceased.

4. The recoupment of any overpayments will be pursued as expeditiously as possible.

That is the position.

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