Leo Varadkar yet to receive HSE plan for next year's funding due today

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has yet to receive the HSE’s plans for funding the service next year, despite a long-standing legal target to publish the document by today.

A spokesperson for the minister and a HSE colleague both said the file — which outlines how budget 2016 will affect hospitals, primary care services and other supports — will be provided “in the near future”, amid speculation over what it may contain.

Under long-standing budget rules, the HSE is obliged to draw up a document known as a service plan within 21 days of wider budget announcements in order to outline its use of taxpayers’ money next year.