Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

Last year, there was a supplementary estimate in the region of €300 million. This year, it amounts to €199 million. This immediately raises the question as to the adequacy of the initial budgets, whether these budgets were deliberately understated and whether the service was deliberately under-funded. Although we cannot speak about next year, we have very serious concerns about the 2014 budget.

We still have not seen the national service plan and it appears we will not see it until the new year. That is a very serious concern. The picture being painted here confirms that it is simply not possible to take over €3 billion out of the health budget and provide the same level of service while staying within the budgets that are set. There is no doubt that there are huge pressures on staff across the system from front-line staff to clerical staff and non-nursing staff to management.

Over the past several days we were informed that the HSE had dispensed with 804 front-line nursing staff. This puts pressure on front-line services. We are now looking for specialist nurses overseas, who will be coming at a premium. Is it possible to get the total cost of an agency nurse and junior doctor? I have been informed that the cost of an agency junior doctor is three times that of a normally appointed one. Will the Minister clarify this?

What savings have been made in capital works? What works have been delayed? The issue of the HSE’s primary care reimbursement service, PCRS, is a concern now and will be in 2014.