Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not asking for the figure to the euro and to the cent, but a simple mathematical exercise which I have undertaken - let me assure everybody that I do not claim mathematical brilliance - tells us that in real terms the overrun by year end will be in the neighbourhood of €509 million, which is more than €0.5 billion. There is €72 million in respect of cash management flow, but this still leaves a massive hole in the budget. I am not looking for specifics but I want the HSE and the Department to tell us whether that €438 million cut is realisable. Dr. McLoughlin is saying that it is, he is identifying various policy measures which will kick in by year end to make up that shortfall. If I am not mistaken, he is saying that a figure in the range of only €130 million to €172 million will be the cut to the front line. I am not looking for the detail, but I ask Dr. McLoughlin to set out the blocks.