HSE overspent €11m on technology budget

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) exceeded its sanctioned budget and spent almost €11 million more on information and communications technology (ICT) last year than the Government had permitted.

It also broke government rules stipulating that ICT expenditure be sanctioned on a case-by-case basis by seeking tenders for a number of projects without permission.

In May this year, the HSE submitted a return to the Government, giving a detailed breakdown of ICT expenditure for 2006.