Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 691: To ask the Minister for Health the proposals he has to develop a medical assessment unit at Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22377/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In order to fully consider the issues involved, I recently met with public representatives from Monaghan and requested a detailed clinical and financial feasibility study on such a development from the HSE. I understand that arrangements for conducting the study are currently being made by the HSE.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 692: To ask the Minister for Health his views on a statement (details supplied) that in some cases hospital budget overruns are due to incompetence by hospital management; if his attention has been drawn to which hospitals were being referred to; the action, if any, he intends to take to rectify this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22407/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I recognise that the management of funding allocations by public hospitals poses a serious budgetary challenge. It is clear that if existing spending trends remain unchecked there will be a significant overrun at the end of this year. I have made it clear that such an overrun is not acceptable given the state of the public finances and this country's obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding with the IMF and EU. I am in ongoing contact with the HSE to ensure that all necessary steps are being taken to avoid any budgetary overruns while at the same ensuring the maintenance of services in line with the commitments given by the HSE and public hospitals.

I am on record as saying that every individual agency must take responsibility and do everything possible to stay within budget while delivering their planned level of service. Under its reform programme the Government has committed to achieving greater efficiencies in patient care and service delivery. These efficiencies will not be easy to achieve but I am certain that over time they will help to ensure that more people get access to services within a given quantum of funding. In this regard it is important that the management capacity in our public hospitals is sufficiently robust to meet these challenges.

The Deputy will also be aware that it is the role of the Special Delivery Unit, which I recently established, to address issues around the better and more efficient delivery of health services. The work of the SDU will contribute significantly to improving outcomes for patients and to greater efficiencies in the system.