Minister Confirms Department Of Health Will Overrun It's Budget

Minister confirms department of health will overrun it's budget

Leo Varadkar has confirmed the Department of Health will overrun its budget by 500 million euro this year. The Health Minister says he does not have an "exact figure" for next year's Budget - amid reports he has warned his Cabinet colleagues that he cannot afford any more cutbacks. Minister Varadkar says he accepts reducing the deficit below 3 per cent is the Government's chief consideration. But he says the Health Service can't handle increased demand on reduced budgets. "It does look like we're going to overrun by something in the region of 500 million euros" he said. "What that really is, is an overspend of somewhere in the region of 3 or 4 percent at a time when demand and activity is increasing". "While it's possible to deliver the same level of activity every year on a slightly reduced budget, it's not really possible to increase activity and cut budgets at the same time" he added.