Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive returned unspent funds to the Exchequer at the end of 2007; if so, the amount involved; the reason it was not spent in the health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34520/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The final out-turn on Vote expenditure for the Health Service Executive in 2007, shows there was an overall surrender of approximately €39m, after a total out-turn of €11,435,462m. The non capital programme shows a saving of €50m and a further saving of €18m for Appropriations-in-Aid. This was used to offset an overspend of €29m in capital spending.

The actual levels of service provided in most areas were in excess of the planned targets for 2007 as set out in the approved National Service Plan. This was particularly the case in the acute hospital sector and the community drugs schemes. At the same time the rate of progress was less than planned in the development of the primary care teams and some developments in mental health services and there was a considerable underspend on the scheme for the repayment of charges for long stay accommodation under Section 13 of the Health (Repayment Scheme) 2006.

This resulted in the need for a Supplementary Estimate which in effect did not involve any additional charge on the Exchequer as the increased costs from the higher levels of activity were met from savings in other areas and on the repayments scheme.