Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the proposal to cut a further €200 million from the Health Service Executive budget in order to provide for possible shortfalls later in 2010 have now been abandoned in view of the agreement reached; if the original commitments on spending in the national service plan will be honoured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20188/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I approved the HSE National Service Plan 2010 on 5th February. In approving the Plan, I highlighted to the Executive the need to deliver, at a minimum, the levels of service set out in the Plan as well as operating within the limits of its Voted allocation of €14.069bn. The Government made a series of decisions that will reduce HSE costs by some €1bn, made up of savings of €630m and non-pay savings of €394m. The latter includes a target of €106m in non-pay economies to be saved by the HSE in 2010, including substantial procurement savings.

The Deputy will be aware that there has been considerable difficulties in monitoring the implementation of the Plan due to an industrial relations dispute which has resulted in no performance management information being made available to the management of the HSE. Arising from a Labour Court decision last month it has now been agreed that financial information will be exempted from the ban on information. However there continues to be difficulties in respect of other management information. I have fully supported the HSE in its efforts to resolve this issue.

In the context of uncertainty regarding the financial position of the HSE the Executive indicated publicly that it was developing proposals to initiate cost reduction measures which might have the effect of reducing some of the service levels set out in the National Service Plan, at least on a temporary basis. Any reduction in planned services would require an amendment to the approved Service Plan by the HSE Board and approved by me. No such amendment has been sought and in any event I believe that on the information currently available it would not be acceptable for patients/users to suffer service reductions in the current circumstances. I welcome the subsequent acceptance of the Labour Court recommendations by the HSE and IMPACT. This should assist in ensuring delivery of services in line with the original Service Plan and within the Executive's voted allocation.

My Department is continuing to liaise closely with the HSE on this matter.