Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the quarterly oversight meetings between the treatment abroad scheme and the Department of Health produce formal minutes, action logs or governance reports; and whether these documents are retained centrally by the Department. [39185/26]
View answer1311. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health receives specialty-specific approval or expenditure data from the treatment abroad scheme during quarterly oversight meetings. [39214/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1283 and 1311 together.
The Treatment Abroad Scheme operates within the overall health expenditure framework approved by the Oireachtas through the Estimates process and reflected in the HSE National Service Plan. The HSE is required, under the Performance and Accountability Framework agreed with my Department, to deliver all services, including the Treatment Abroad Scheme, within its overall annual budget allocation and to put in place appropriate governance, monitoring and financial controls.
While access to the Treatment Abroad Scheme is determined by individual clinical eligibility rather than fixed activity quotas, it is not exempt from budgetary oversight. Expenditure on the scheme is monitored as part of the HSE’s monthly financial reporting, and pressures arising within the scheme must be managed by the HSE within its overall annual budget allocation.
The Department currently receives an HSE Activity and Expenditure Data Report, which includes TAS information, from the HSE on a quarterly basis. Officials from my Department engage in quarterly performance oversight meetings with the HSE TAS office based on the contents of this report, with additional engagement as required. It is important to note this engagement is in addition to the overall budgetary and performance framework within which the HSE operates.
