THE Minister for Health has ruled out increasing hospital charges to pay for the revised nurses pay deal. The matter arose at question time when Fianna Fail health spokesman Mr Brian Cowen asked about reports that the Minister for Finance had sought cuts from Government departments, including Health, to finance the £80 million for the nurses' deal. One proposal reported was an increase in hospital charges.

Mr Noonan said the position of the Minister for Finance was that Departments would have to live within the expenditure parameters set out in the Book of Estimates for this year. "Accordingly the Government will identify savings across the Departments, not confined to the Department of Health. The Minister for Finance will be bringing forward the proposal to which he alluded and there will be no increase in hospital charges as a result of the deal."