Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

As Senator Quinn is aware, the Eastern Regional Health Authority is charged with responsibility for commissioning health and personal social services on behalf of the population of the region, and also on behalf of those outside the region who are referred for specialist treatment.

The approved level of spending nationally for health services in 2003 is in excess of €9 billion. Of this, over €500 million relates to capital spending, with the remaining €8.5 billion available for revenue spending. This level of expenditure represents an increase of almost 9% on the figure for 2002, which allowed the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to allocate funding for the ERHA and the health boards that is approximately 9% higher than that provided for in the 2002 letters of determination.