Health minister: Splitting HSE into regions was not a mistake

As the Cork/Kerry and Dublin/Northwest HSE regions face €37m deficits, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said 'some regions are managing this'

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. File picture: PA

The health minister has insisted that splitting the HSE into regions with independent budgets was not a mistake, as concern grows about a €250m budget deficit already this year.

The HSE Southwest region, covering Cork and Kerry, has put in place spending controls, including a pause on hiring non-frontline roles such as clerical staff or management.