Martin's spending spree kicks off with €60m to health boards

HEALTH MINISTER Micheál Martin is wasting no time in starting to spend the €2.7 billion allocated for health service facilities, beginning with mental health, accident and emergency departments and ambulance services.

Yesterday, Mr Martin announced an additional €60 million is being given to the country's eight health boards this year for minor capital projects.

The allocation comes just days after the Irish Examiner reported that the Government is to embark on a multi-billion euro spending spree on health in the run-up to the next general election, after the Department of Health reached agreement with the Department of Finance on a five-year investment plan.