Health reports cost department over €7 million

WORKING and review group reports commissioned by, or on behalf of, Health Minister Micheál Martin are set to cost the taxpayer over 7 million.

The Department of Health has confirmed that 95 such groups have been set up since Mr Martin took over as health minister in 2000.

And another 26 review groups have been set up since the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats coalition took office six years ago, at a cost of almost 3m more, according to the Department of Health.