€150m shortfall warning for HSE budget

The HSE’s delayed 2016 budget plan is at least €150m short of what is needed to meet hospital, staff pay and service demands, forcing Government into a political crisis weeks out from the general election.

The HSE detailed the situation in a series of warnings about the “substantial financial risk” facing it next year, casting doubt over the key plan less than 24 hours after it was finalised.

The 172-page HSE service plan document, which outlines how the system’s €13bn budget will be used next year, was published by HSE director general Tony O’Brien yesterday after weeks of delays and last- minute cabinet changes.