Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an analysis of the €308 million of pay related savings in his Department's budget in 2013; and if he will set out the way such savings estimates were validated by his Department. [57390/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A total of €308m in pay-related savings has been targeted for the health services in 2013. These savings will be achieved under three separate headings: firstly, by intensifying the implementation of the Public Service Agreement within the health services, secondly, through the negotiation of an agreement on further workplace change and savings with public sector unions, as has been proposed by Government, and thirdly, through further reductions in staffing in 2013.

Required measures under the PSA and included in the recently-revised sectorial plan for Health include new rosters in hospitals, changes in skill mix in nursing homes, the implementation of the recent agreement reached with Hospital Consultants, a significant reduction in overtime and agency spending and a reduction in management grades.

The Government has initiated discussions with the Trade Unions on a new agenda for improvements in the productivity of public servants and reductions in the cost of delivery of public services. Detailed engagement is expected to commence early in 2013, under the leadership of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Implementation of the PSA is overseen by the national-level Implementation Body. Each sector is required to provide periodic reports to the Implementation Body and this arrangement will continue in respect of measures to be implemented in 2013.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the underlying workings in support of the €60 million savings on Department vote in his Department's 2013 budget; and if he will set out the way such savings estimates were validated by his Department. [57391/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The adjustments to the Department of Health Vote, Vote 38, are set out in the Budget book published recently and available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Department of Health Vote is being reduced by €90m. This arises from a range of measures. Even allowing for additional expenditure related to the EU Presidency, there will be a reduction in the Department’s Administrative Budget. There will be savings on the National Treatment Purchase Fund and €25m of its budget will be transferred to the HSE for use in an Intervention Fund. There will also be a range of further reductions, including a reduction in funding to health agencies.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the underlying workings in support of the €160 million reduction in cost of drugs and other prescribed items in his Department budget for 2013; and if he will set out the way such savings estimates were validated by his Department. [57392/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment, the Government has committed to achieving additional savings of €160 in expenditure on drugs and medicines in 2013 as set out in the following table: