Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Health if the almost €50 million which was earmarked for the provision of additional hospital beds and for developments for medical card patients is to be used to deal with overspending in the health service; and the way in which the €50 million was to have been assigned in tabular form [46457/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department, through the regular performance management process, is working closely with the HSE to manage health system demands through to year end within the funding available.

As part of this ongoing engagement a detailed review of the timelines for new developments for 2018 was undertaken. A number of new initiatives across acute, community and demand led service areas have or are expected to commence later in the year than original planned due to a number of reasons such as recruitment, planning or procurement delays.

As a result of the delayed commencements €50m of once off savings on spend in 2018 have been identified. Less than €2m of this relates to hospital capacity, and is a result of delays to modular builds which are now scheduled to open in Q1 2019 rather than Q4 2018.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Minister for Health if just over €200 million in health service funding for specific new initiatives for 2019 is being held back; and if so, the specific initiatives and the funding for each in tabular form [46458/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health section of the 2019 Expenditure Report, available on budget.gov.ie, sets out the new initiatives funded under the €206m for the Sláintecare Implementation in 2019.

The initiatives include new developments for both the Department and the HSE. In line with previous years an element of the new development funding will be held back in the Department.The final level of funding released during the year for delivery of the new developments will be subject to the submission, review, approval and commencement of those developments.

The HSE is currently drafting the 2019 National Service Plan which will include a detailed outline of new developments for 2019 and the related funding allocation.The Department does not routinely provide details on proposals for service delivery for the following year in advance of the approved National Service Plan. To do so would be inappropriate, and impact on both organisations ability to plan effectively.

The 2019 National Service Plan will be published following approval by the Minister for Health.