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

Whatever about Mr. O'Brien's judgment call on whether it was insufficiency of funding or underestimation and whichever judgment one makes, there is now an established pattern of a shortfall and the necessity of a Supplementary Estimate. The reason I ask this question of Mr. O'Brien is not so much with an eye on 2011 but more with an eye to the future and the €721 million earmarked for savings this year under the HSE's national service plan. I want to ask Mr. O'Brien some questions in this regard. From where does he envisage these savings coming? I ask particularly in light of my understanding that up to the end of February 2013, the HSE was demonstrating a net overspend of €13 million. In other words, the HSE already is in deficit position and were Mr. O'Brien in a position to give me a more up-to-date figure, I would appreciate it. Given that it is now the end of April, what is the deficit's current size? From where are these savings of €721 million to come?