The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has issued a stark warning to the Health Service Executive in relation to excessive overspending.
Mr Varadkar who is bust preparing for next month’s budget has reportedly informed top executives at the health authority that neither he or the Government will accept any excuses on overspending in the health service over the coming year ahead.
The Taoiseach’s comments come in a week were the HSE has yet again come in for further scrutiny amid reports that it is facing another overspend of €300 million.
It is thought the latest overspend which will be the third in as many years has led to Mr Varadkar to take a tough stance with the health authority who is facing relentless questioning from not only Government ministers but medical staff and the public as well.
Speaking about the issue Mr Varadkar said funding had increased by more than a €1 billion over the past two years to bring spending on health to its highest level in the history of the State.
The Taoiseach also said Ireland was the fifth biggest spender on health in the western world and therefore it should be the fifth best health service in the world.