Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have not commissioned any independent analysis on potential savings in the health sector since March 2011. That would be a matter for the Minister for Health, as the Government has line Departments with line Ministers responsible for their own areas. In terms of analysis, a comprehensive review of expenditure was carried out during 2011 and was published in December 2011 in conjunction with the 2012 budget. In my budget speech in October 2013, I announced a second comprehensive review of expenditure, the objective of which will be for each Minister and each Department to examine and propose measures that will contribute to the overall expenditure target set out by the Government for each of the next three years. This review also will expand on the existing analysis carried out by Departments and my Department since 2011. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will co-ordinate the review process and will produce the final comprehensive report alongside the budget documents for next year. In addition, a separate review of capital expenditure is under way that will set out the capital envelope for the next five years.

In January 2014, I published the Government's second Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016. This sets out, at a high level, the key priorities and objectives in the main public services, including health. As set out in the reform plan, there are significant and administrative reforms such as usage of additional hours, as well as areas of reform of overtime pay, premium pay and all the rest.

On health expenditure, I note that at present there almost is a given that health expenditure is being reduced greatly. Consequently, I should tell the Deputy that in the budgets introduced by the Government since 2011, the money given to the HSE has not fallen. There is a general commentary about expenditure cuts but the facts are different. Net expenditure from 2011 to 2013 for the HSE has increased by €72 million, not reduced. Total non-pay funding given to the HSE has increased by €407 million, not reduced and I can provide the hospital details to the Deputy as well. Consequently, the Deputy is correct that the Government needs to drill down to make sure it gets value for the enormous effort it has made to maintain expenditure in the health area.

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