asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to voluntary hospitals out of health board estimates, setting out the amounts paid by each health board and indicating the basis on which these payments have been decided.

Voluntary hospitals are paid directly by the Department on behalf of the health boards.

In 1983 the approved allocations of the voluntary hospitals totalled £239.55 million. These allocations were fixed in the light of the same considerations as were applicable in the case of the health board allocations and were apportioned over the health boards on the basis of the usage of the in-patient facilities in each voluntary hospital by eligible persons for whom the boards would have a responsibility. The actual amounts determined for the eight health boards were as follows:

Have the voluntary hospitals had sufficient money to meet their commitments in 1983? If not, what proposals has he to make good the shortfall?

In 1983 or 1984?

1983.

I have not had any major problems with the voluntary hospitals in the course of the year. I met their chairmen and secretary managers mid-way through 1983. The allocations notified on 7 March 1983 totalled £236 million. For the year as a whole there is an allocation of £239.5 million. I have not had any major reaction from the various voluntary hospitals.

Can I take it that there was no overexpenditure in any of the voluntary hospitals in 1983?

They may be somewhat overstated in relation to health boards on the western seaboard as allowances have not been made for any variation between in-patient and out-patient usage due to the geographical origin of patients. It is a complex system of allocation but there have not been any over-allocations by my Department.

I appreciate the information given to me by the Minister with regard to overallocation. However, I wish to know if the voluntary hospitals are able to carry on with the allocations they are receiving from the Minister and if any voluntary hospitals over expended in 1983?

I do not have detailed information in this regard. I have a list of two pages of voluntary hospitals here but, with the exception of three or four, there have not been any problems. The problems that exist have been discussed at departmental level but I am not aware of any major problems of overexpenditure in 1983. Indeed, most hospitals are prepared to work within their budgets for 1984. It is now the middle of February and, so far, I have not had any complaints.

The Minister gave a figure in respect of voluntary hospitals in the Southern Health Board area of £16.4 million for 1984——

That was for the Southern Health Board.

Could the Minister give the comparable figure for 1983? Has he received a request from the Cork Voluntary Hospitals Board for a meeting to discuss the overall financial situation in relation to Cork voluntary hospitals?

In answer to the first question, the figure I gave was for 1983. I do not have comparable figures for 1982 or 1984 in terms of allocation and I have not had requests to meet representatives from individual hospitals in Cork.

Has the Minister had a request to meet the Cork Voluntary Hospitals Board which represents a substantial group of hospitals?

I have been meeting them but not on the question of allocations.

Will the Minister meet them if they so request?

Yes, I hope to go to Cork quite soon.

They will look after you there. They like looking after Corkmen who come home.

If the European elections do not finish soon, we will never get anywhere.

The Minister is feeling the pinch.