Health

HSE board warns budget deficit of up to €2.2 billion needs to be dealt with “realistically”

The scale of the HSE’s funding deficit could reach “€2.2 billion” by the end of this year after the situation worsened over the summer months

Government ministers are fearful the growing budget deficit in the HSE will eat into other department’s spending budgets

The board of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned the Department of Public Expenditure that the potential deficit in the health budget of up to €2.2 billion needs to be tackled "realistically".

The scope for further budget measures is being seriously threatened by the enormous HSE deficit, with the situation worsening over the summer months.

Government ministers are fearful that the predicted deficit of up to 10 per cent on the record €23.4 billion ...