Written answers

Wednesday, 10 May 2006

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Expenditure

9:00 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 30: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the €56.4 million which it was discovered had been left unaccounted for by the Health Service Executive has been accounted for; if this money was accounted for as a shortfall; if this shortfall will affect the funding of services in the current fiscal year; if it was not accounted for as a shortfall, the explanation which has been provided to her for this anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17661/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Firstly I wish to assure the Deputy that there is no question of voted monies being unaccounted for by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The 2005 Appropriation Account and the HSE's Annual Financial Statements have been submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General who is in the process of completing his audit.

In compliance with the Department of Finance reporting requirements, the HSE provided their best estimate of the end year forecast of Exchequer issues for 2005 on 22nd December 2005. As stated by the HSE at the time, the estimated outturn figures provided in January 2006 were preliminary and were subject to revision following a full reconciliation of the Financial Statements on an income and expenditure basis with the Appropriation Account on a vote basis.

The HSE's Appropriation Account for 2005 is now complete. It shows an excess of €300,000 on the revenue Vote account and a saving of €51m on the capital Vote account. In the context of a budget of more than €11 billion this is a very satisfactory outcome. It has been agreed that subject to the necessary Dáil approval, the saving on capital will be made available to the HSE this year by way of a Supplementary Estimate.

I recognise that it will take some time for the HSE to introduce a single accounting system throughout the organisation which is capable of providing full dual accounting — the standard Vote accounts, and the income and expenditure accounts operated by the former health boards.

However, I am assured by the HSE that their systems are fully capable of accounting for all transactions within the organisation and I expect to see a significant improvement this year in the quality of their in-year expenditure management returns.

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