Cuts underway to clawback HSE cost over-runs

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has said that major cutbacks are underway to prevent cost over-runs in the Health Service Executive.

The minister was responding to questions in the Dáil about the HSE's budget over-run which was expected to exceed €300m by the end of this year.

Minister Harney said a range of cutbacks are currently being implemented and include measures to bring the levels of service back into line with the targets set out in the service plan as well as a range of cost savings and operational overheads .

The cuts include a reduction in travel and subsistence, a reduction in consultancy and advertising costs and the cancellation of all non-essential training.

Other initiatives included increasing the collection of hospital charges and addressing absenteeism according to Minister Harney.