Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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200. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated additional full-year expenditure needed in each of the next five years in order to maintain existing levels of health services. [47295/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government undertakes an annual budget cycle which incorporates detailed submissions in relation to the funding requirements to maintain existing levels of health service for the following year. A key element of this is an assessment of the impact of;

a) enhancements in the models of care implemented during the year;

b) the introduction of new developments or new government policy; and

c) the estimated demographic impact and d) inflationary pressures.

Due to multiplicity of potential factors that can occur in a year in the health system with future cost implications for subsequent years, the accuracy and relevance of estimates prepared beyond a twelve month period is limited and would be inconsistent with the government policy on annual budgeting.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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201. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated additional full-year expenditure needed in each of the next five years to meet demographic challenges. [47296/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has published a comprehensive report called ‘Planning for Health: Trends and Priorities to inform Health Service Planning’ which is available on the website here: . The report includes information on the estimated impact, due to demographic change, on service demand by 2022, however detailed annual costing are not part of the report.

As part of the annual estimates process the HSE prepares a supplementary report that provides estimates of the demographic impact on expected costs for the following year.

Preparing a multi annual forecast is not consistent with the annual budget cycle. Ongoing improvements/changes in models of care in any year and the introduction of new developments or new government policy would impact on any costs forecasted beyond a twelve month period.