Kenny rules out extra budget for health

THE TAOISEACH has ruled out the introduction of a supplementary budget to provide increased funding for the health services.

Enda Kenny said Minister for Health James Reilly was dealing with the matter with the interim HSE board.

“The Minister has been left to clean up the most unholy mess. It is the legacy of a government that was out of control.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it was clear that Dr Reilly’s personal affairs were not completely in order. What was even more alarming was the complete lack of order in the financial affairs of the Department of Health and the health services.

Mr Martin said the latest reports suggested that the deficit overrun was close to €280 million by the end of May and the figure had risen by €80 million in one month. It was projected to go to €500 million.

He said thanks to a freedom of information request by Martin Wall of The Irish Times, people had an insight into the incredible ongoing correspondence within the health service.

He called on the Taoiseach to give a guarantee that there would be no erosion or undermining of frontline services.

Mr Kenny said he would take no lectures from Mr Martin on health. “The deputy sat over here as minister responsible for health matters and denied any responsibility for anything happening in the Department of Health.”

Later the debate resumed on a Fianna Fáil Private Members’ motion calling for no cut in services due to the funding shortfall.

Dr Reilly said Fianna Fáil had left the health services in chaos. Insisting that the Government had made progress on the health services, he said it contrasted with what happened under the previous government.

The clinical programmes last year had saved 70,000 bed-days and €63 million, allowing the treatment of more patients more quickly, Dr Reilly added.

Some 23,000 clients were now supported under the Fair Deal scheme, while there had been a 6 per cent increase in emergency department admissions. There were 1.8 million people in the medical card scheme, the highest number in the State’s history.

“Let us look at Micheál Martin’s legacy: 128 reports, 132 consultancies, at a cost of €13.8 million,” said Dr Reilly

Introducing the motion on Tuesday night, Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher said it was clear now, seven months on from the budget, that much of what was said in terms of the health estimate was a tissue of lies.

“We have already begun to see hospital managers under huge stress and pressure. We have heard claims that trolleys are being moved to wards in order to reduce the trolley count.”

Eminent consultants were saying that lives were now being put at risk, said Mr Kelleher.

Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin accused the Minister and his colleagues of continuing the failure of their predecessors.

An amendment to the motion endorsing Government policy was passed.