HSE 2016 spend plan set for scrutiny

The long-awaited Health Service Executive financial plan for 2016 will be brought before Cabinet so spending on services can be allocated for next year.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Alan Kelly will bring long-awaited draft legislation for an independent planning regulator before his colleagues.

The Taoiseach last week promised the position would be totally independent and would ensure there was a new authority to strictly oversee rezoning and planning matters.

The appointment of a planning regulator was originally recommended in the wake of the damning 2012 Mahon planning tribunal report.

Elsewhere, final draft legislation to govern new ethics’ obligations for politicians is also expected to be brought to Cabinet by Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

Agreement on the Public Sector Standards Bill comes after an RTÉ investigation last week lifted the lid on politicians failing to full declare their interests in business and properties and others wiling to lobby for personal gain or money.

This bill proposes a new public sector standards commissioner, stricter guidelines on declarations as well as tougher sanctions for breaching rules.

Crucially, if passed, it would ensure that a failure by Oireachtas members to properly declare their interests in future would be considered a criminal offence

However, the bill is not expected to be enacted until after the general election.

The Fine Gael-Labour coalition are also expected to discuss final plans for the new independent policing authority, which is due to go ‘live’ on January 1.

A key part of the meeting though will be the Cabinet’s consideration of the HSE service plan for next year, ahead of its publication.

It is expected to say that the health system is facing another difficult year ahead and will struggle to stay in budget. The €13bn plan for the next 12 months is expected to say alternative ways to balance the books may be needed due to tougher new EU rules which will come into play.

Meanwhile, the Coalition’s hopes of returning to power was boosted after another lift in a weekend poll, which put joint support for Fine Gael and Labour at 39%.

The increased level of support for the outgoing coalition is fuelling speculation that Enda Kenny could dissolve the Dáil and call a general election early in the New Year.