Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the statement of the chief executive officer of the Health Services Executive, Professor Drumm, that the health services are very well resourced (details supplied); the reason the HSE's budgetary position in April 2007 showed a deficit of almost €200 million; her views on whether expenditure by the HSE is out of control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19848/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Revised Estimates Volume 2007 provides €13,431 million for day to day spending by the Health Service Executive which is an increase of 10.6% over the underlying 2006 provision. This substantial increase in funding means in my view that the HSE is being well resourced and in particular it comes in the wake of substantial year on year increases for some time now.

At the end of August the HSE was over its planned budget by €222 million on its Vote. In order to deal with this the HSE has put in place a 'Breakeven Plan' which consists of a number of corrective measures to ensure a balanced budget at year end. Accordingly, HSE Management has decided that:

All recruitment be suspended for September after which the situation will be reviewed.

All 'non frontline' expenditure be critically reviewed.

The intention is that these measures will not impact on 'front line' services which will be maintained in line with the National Service Plan and provision is made that where critical or essential vacancies arise, they may be filled by re-deployment of existing staff.

It should be noted that to date this year, the HSE has exceeded the service targets which were set out in its Service Plan and has treated substantially more people than in the same period last year.

The HSE are ensuring that patient care is not compromised and that it continues to maintain and improve the high level of service being provided.