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The Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, today welcomed the Government approval of a Revised Estimate for the Department of Health of €500 million, saying that it would allow Programme for Government commitments to be met while also addressing financial pressures in the health service.
"My top priority is addressing some immediate problems facing patients as well as seeing Programme for Government commitments for the first 100 days implemented. I am pleased to say that as a result of today’s announcement I am confident that we will have confirmed funding for a winter initiative to help address overcrowding in Emergency Departments. As an integral part of this initiative, I will increase resources for home care services. I can also confirm that the revised estimate will allow us to restore the full ring-fenced mental health budget and provide more funding to school-leavers with disabilities. I expect Ministers McEntee & McGrath will outline more detail on these initiatives in the coming days.
"The allocation to address the budget overrun in the HSE will be underpinned by an improved governance and accountability framework. Health service management will be accountable for performing within the budget set by these additional resources. It is in acute hospitals that Government sees the greatest need for improved accountability and control.
"The Programme for Government commits to establishing a Performance Management Unit which will work with individual hospitals where there are difficulties in order to achieve improvement. Establishment of this Unit will contribute to a stronger focus on operational control and accountability within acute hospitals. There should be support and recognition for managers who rise to the challenge of leading performance improvement within the funding available."