Taoiseach says Minister for Health “takes his time” in delay over 2014 HSE service plan

Minister for Health James Reilly "takes his time", the Taoiseach said when questioned about why the 2014 health service plan has still not gone to the health committee.

Reform Alliance TD Lucinda Creighton asked Enda Kenny why the plan had been delayed when it was supposed to go before the health committee today.

Draft plan
Mr Kenny said: "There is no reason for the delay. The Minister will comply with the requirement on him to respond to the draft plan that is submitted by the Health Service Executive."

Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy asked “if there is no reason for the delay, why is there a delay?”, to which Mr Kenny replied “he takes his time”. Earlier Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said there was now a “real possibility” that the health committee would not discuss the health service plan before it was introduced in 2014, which he described as a “bizarre situation”.

Dr Reilly had written to the health committee to say he would not be attending today because the plan “is still not ready”, Mr Ó Caoláin said.

He pointed to several delays and extensions granted to the HSE to draw up its plan and budget. He said he was not surprised at the delay, given the Government’s imposition of at least €666 million in cuts in next year’s budget, which he described as unsustainable.

Health estimate
He asked how the Taoiseach could impose this when on Tuesday a supplementary health estimate of €290 million was published to get the HSE to the end of the month.

The Taoiseach said Dr Reilly was going through the draft plan the HSE submitted to him and he had until Monday to respond.

He added that the process “is nearing a conclusion because there is a timeline on it and he expected the Minister to conclude his deliberations next week.