New figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE) are expected to reveal a slight fall in the health service deficit this year.
However it is still €394 million in the red.
The HSE performance report is due to be published today and The Irish Times says it will show a €10 million reduction in the deficit figure for August.
More patients being treated
It comes as an ESRI report out today shows that acute hospitals are treating more patients despite cuts to budgets and staff by discharging them on the same day.
The number of hospital discharges rose by almost 2% between 2010 and 2011.
This is mostly because of the increase in the number of day patients.
Miriam Wiley is a professor with the ESRI.
She says this is an impressive reflection on the acute hospital system in times of budgetary constraints.
