Health budget set up in a 'dysfunctional and troubling' way, Oireachtas committee says

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “Inflation in the health sector is significantly more than the headline inflation rate projected by ESRI of 5% for 2023, being an average rate of 10% across the non-pay Acutes area, and significantly higher in areas such as medical and surgical supplies, 17%.” File photo: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

The way the health budget was set this year was dysfunctional and troubling, the Oireachtas Health Committee heard on Wednesday.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Mary Butler faced questions on how the agreement was reached with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) on funding.