AQW 4780/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the future of the Cross-Border Healthcare scheme.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 17 October 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 17 October 2022
- Answer due by
- 1 November 2022
- Answered
- 20 October 20223 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The scheme you are referring to is the Republic of Ireland Reimbursement Scheme (RoIRS) which has now closed.
In my written assembly statement on 20 June 2022, regarding the reform of stroke services and the recovery of elective orthopaedic services in Northern Ireland, I announced my decision to extend the Republic of Ireland Reimbursement Scheme (ROIRS) by allocating a further £5m, to continue it beyond the planned 30 June 2022 deadline, until the £5m of new funding had been committed.
New applications were accepted from 1 July 2022 and the scheme closed to new applications at 5pm on Wednesday 21 September as the additional £5m funding had been committed.
I am very conscious of pressing demands for extra funding across many areas of health and social care. As Minister, I have continued to do the best I can to deliver for the public with the resources I have available. Amid ongoing budget uncertainty, I am on record as warning that funding pressures in health may be significant by the second half of 2022/23. The financial situation will undoubtedly be constrained whatever the final budget settlement. However, because of these pressures, I regret that it has not been possible to assign funding to further extend the RoIRS.