Martin under fire for spending €30m on 'unnecessary health reports'

THE Department of Health has come under fire for wasting €30 million of tax payers' money on unnecessary reports while the health service is struggling to cope with demand.

The opposition parties rounded on former Health Minister Micheál Martin yesterday saying he continuously commissioned reports "so he could avoid making decisions."

Some of the 115 reports commissioned by Mr Martin which drew the sharpest criticism were the National Health Strategy which cost €820,000, the Brennan report setting out a value for money policy in the health service which cost €615,757 and the €741,051 Hanly report on restructuring hospital services.