Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

876. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the overall health budget spent on primary care in this State; his views on how this compares with similar jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22441/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The HSE's National Service Plan for 2015 shows a net budget allocation of €12,131 million. Some €3,311.8 million of this is allocated for Primary Care, of which €726 million covers Primary Care pay/non-pay and €2,485.8 million covers expenditure by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. This represents approximately 27% of the overall net health budget.

Currently there is no direct international comparison for Primary Care expenditure. From 2016, there will be a legal obligation on all EU Member States to provide data for the System of Health Accounts. While the System of Health Accounts will not mention primary care specifically, it will be possible to compare expenditure by type of provider, such as providers of ambulatory healthcare or type of function, e.g. pharmaceuticals.

It will be mid to late 2016 before the 2014 data for EU Member States is available.