Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Health Service Executive’s financial situation; the extent of the supplementary budget that is likely to be required for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20780/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In the recently published HSE Performance Report for March, the HSE reported year to date net expenditure of €3.073 billion against a budget of €2.982 billion, leading to a variance of €91m. The Income and Expenditure data confirms that the key financial risks are in demand-led areas as well as in the Acute and Social Care areas.

Acute hospitals in particular will require very close management using the measures specified in the HSE’s Accountability Framework. Under this new Framework, escalation procedures have been initiated by the HSE in respect of financial underperformance in both the Acute Hospitals and Social Care areas. Amongst the actions taken, remedial action plans and financial recovery plans have been requested in respect of individual underperforming hospitals and the social care area, with the HSE management response to underperformance differentiated, in order to target areas that are over budget. All Hospital Groups are required to prepare cost containment plans.

It is too early, at this stage, to assess the effect of action taken under the Accountability Framework and as such, to take a view on either the requirement for, or the quantum of, a supplementary estimate. My Department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the greatest degree of budgetary control is exercised.