Andrew Carey
AS the Government enters it’s second round of discussions to devise the economic strategy plan for the country over the next six year, the overrun on expenditure by the HSE and the Departments of Health and Justice have been played down by Finance Minister Michael Noonan who said the country is a billion euro better off this December.
Speaking in Limerick earlier this week, Minister Noonan said that the figures must be taken into the context of overall expenditure.
“If you look at the November exchequer returns for taxes and expenditure, we are about one billion better off coming into December than we anticipated when the 2013 budget was announced.
Assessing the overrun in expenditure by the Department of Health, Minister Noonan said that savings elsewhere in the Government accounts would pay for the overrun in Health and Justice.
“The overruns aren’t that significant as a percentage when you think that Health spends almost €14 billion. The overrun in percentage terms isn’t very high.
“In the overall scheme of things, there isn’t a problem in the Government accounts because there are complimentary savings elsewhere in other departments and there are additional taxes. By meeting the bills at the end of this year, there isn’t a carry over into next year and it improves the Department of Health’s position for 2014.”
Minister Noonan said that the Taoiseach would be outlining a strategic plan in the wake of Ireland’s exit from the bail-out.
Stating that the Government would be returning to the money markets in January and February, he said the key element would be to have the best strategy in place.
