# HSE report links budget overrun mainly to non-pay costs

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-internal-hse-report-that-points-the-finger-for-budget-overruns-directly-at-the-department-of-health-and-why-it-makes-grim-reading-for-minister-jennifer-carroll-macneill-and-for-you-the-taxpayer/
- Published: 2026-11-08T22:34:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T22:47:37+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16274365/Internal-HSE-report-budget-overruns-Department-Health-grim-reading-Minister-Jennifer-Carroll-MacNeill-taxpayer.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- HSE figures show non-pay overspending far exceeds staff pay costs.
- Total overspend reached €659 million by the end of August.
- Children’s Health Ireland recorded a €50.8 million overspend.

## Summary

An internal HSE report challenges Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s claim that unauthorised recruitment is driving the department’s likely €1 billion budget overrun. It shows non-pay costs account for a much larger share of the overspend, raising questions about the Department of Health’s budgeting and the government’s focus on staffing.

By the end of August, HSE spending was €659 million above its agreed allocation: €431 million in non-pay costs, 4.6 per cent over budget, and about €180 million in staff pay, 2 per cent over. Non-pay spending includes payments to health professionals, medicines, clinical supplies and facilities. Children’s Health Ireland had the largest reported overspend, at €50.8 million; Labour health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock warned that carrying this year’s costs into next year could harm services.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.