Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Boards' Expenditure.
- Health boards’ 1985 expenditure 9 speeches
The Minister said boards received 95% of authorised non-capital expenditure in 1985, with payments since bringing recoupment to 97%, and that remaining balances would be paid. He argued that the boards ended the year in good shape, while Dr. O’Hanlon challenged the Minister over their deficits.
Michael O'Kennedy, Barry Desmond, Rory O'Hanlon, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick
- Longford County Hospital closure 5 speeches
Reynolds sought permission to raise the imminent closure of Longford County Hospital on the Adjournment; the Chair said he would communicate with him. Kitt also sought to raise a matter, and the Chair explained that Reynolds had been allowed to do so.
Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Albert Reynolds, Michael P. Kitt
asked the Minister for Health if all the health boards have been paid for their authorised expenditure in 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
It is customary to pay health boards 95 per cent of authorised non-capital expenditure levels for a year within the year and to recoup the balance subsequently with a final adjustment on the basis of audited accounts.
In accordance with this practice, grants amounting to £685.327 million, representing 95 per cent of approved 1985 expenditure levels, were paid to health boards in 1985. Payments to date in the current year in respect of 1985 amount to £13.5 million, bringing the percentage recoupment to date in respect of 1985 expenditure to 97 per cent.
Comment on this
Is there any other specific problem in relation to the health boards as to why they have not been paid other than those which the Minister outlined?
Comment on this
No, I do not have any problems. As the Deputy will recall, in the middle of the year there was a great "to do" about a prospective £30 million or £40 million being short, but at the end of the year it worked out at around £10 million for all health boards, and very little by way of over-run. In 1986 I have made more than adequate provision in terms of balances to ensure that the accounts for 1985 will be discharged. At the end of the year the health boards ended up in exceptionally good shape.
Comment on this
The Minister believes the health boards are in good shape although he accepts that every one of them ran a deficit this year.
Comment on this
When a health board get an allocation of £130 million or £230 million, a deficit of £1 million at the end of the year is no more than a balance——
Comment on this
One health board said they would be short £9 million but at the end of the year they were short only £1 million.
Comment on this
May I have your permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 39, the imminent closure of Longford County Hospital?
