As of today, the balance of grant due to the North-Eastern Health Board in respect of approved expenditure amounts to £4.333 million, of which only £0.020 million relates to 1992.
The discussions with the Department of Finance which I referred to in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 11 May have not yet been completed. No decision can be made in relation to the North-Eastern Health Board until a decision is made on the overall future funding arrangements of the excess expenditure incurred by health boards in previous years. I am hopeful that such a decision can be made within the next few months.