Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 570: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has given policy direction to the Health Service Executive on the areas in which it should focus on budget cuts for 2010; if she will protect the primary community and continuing care budgets in accordance with the stated policy of providing more care for patients outside of acute hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34454/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government will be considering the Estimates for 2010 over the next few months, in the context of its target to reduce the general government deficit to 3% of GDP by 2013 as part of its strategy for economic recovery. As part of the Estimates process, my Department and the Health Service Executive are examining options which might provide expenditure savings next year, while to the greatest extent possible meeting the objective of maintaining population health and access to services. This process is being informed by the recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes and other relevant considerations.

All of these issues are being examined in the context of the Estimates process. Deliberations by Government on the expenditure allocations for next year are likely to continue up until Budget time. The very difficult financial position facing the Exchequer will obviously require very careful management across all areas of expenditure.