Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the savings to date in 2009 yielded from the 8% reduction in professional fees introduced in February 2009; the savings she expects to be made as a result of this 8% reduction in 2009 as a whole; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42647/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I have made a number of sets of Regulations under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 (FEMPI) to reduce the fees and allowances payable to health professionals. These include general practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians who hold contracts with the HSE, persons providing smear taking services as part of the National Cervical Screening Programme and consultant psychiatrists who participate in the Mental Health Tribunal process. Although the amount of savings made to date under the FEMPI Act is not readily available, I am confident that savings of €75 million will be achieved in 2009.