Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Tony O'Brien explained earlier that the HSE accounts are done on a cash basis so between now and the end of the year, the HSE must balance its books. There are roughly seven weeks left in the year. Can these forms be signed off so that the insurance companies can be billed for the outstanding €74 million, with some accelerated payment system put in place so that the HSE does not have to implement the cuts to front-line services that have been signalled? The most obvious one that people want to see reversed is the cut to home help hours. I ask the representatives to address that point. I accept that they are playing hard ball on the issue but I need to know if they will get a result. I am interested in the practicalities and I am pressing the matter because it is very important. The amount of money in question is considerable and it is long overdue. Of a total of €74 million outstanding, one could probably expect approximately €15 million to be outstanding at any given time. Therefore, approximately €60 million should be pulled in without further delay.