Leo Varadkar calls for health service to retain €22bn-a-year budget 

In his keynote address to the Fine Gael ard fheis on Saturday night, Mr Varadkar will say the additional staff, resources, and now €22bn-a-year budget provided to the health service to respond to the crisis should not be cut back as other Covid spending will be

Leo Varadkar:'I believe the additional staff, resources, and billions in extra funding that we have provided to the health service to respond to the emergency should be retained and redeployed.' File picture: Julien Behal

The €4bn in additional spending given to the health service to fight the Covid-19 pandemic “should be retained” permanently, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will tell the Fine Gael ard fheis this evening.

The Irish Examiner has confirmed that, in his keynote address, Mr Varadkar will state that the increased manpower, resources, and now €22bn-a-year budget provided to the health service to respond to the crisis should not be cut back as is due to happen to other Covid spending.