James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will endeavour to do my best. Deputy Kelleher raised the issue of a change in the wording of the service plan following the Cabinet meeting. First, I ask whether he takes as fact everything he reads in the newspapers. Much of it is not fact. What is factual is that the wording did change and the rationale behind the change was the fact that the Cabinet committee was able to agree a revised Estimate volume and additional money which allowed for a change in the wording.

Another question Deputy Kelleher asked was how long it would take to identify where the €108 million comes from. I will invite Mr. O’Brien to say a bit more about it but it is something that will require time to study. It is within the Haddington Road agreement and must come from pay within that, but the mechanisms must be further evaluated.

Deputy Kelleher stated that the figure of 57,000 discretionary medical cards was a reduction compared to the previous number, but as we all know and as has been stated to the committee time and again, and elsewhere, there has been a huge increase in the number of full medical cards allocated. We are at the highest number ever and we have allocated a further €35 million this year for new medical cards.

The Deputy inquired about the White Paper on universal health insurance. I have it in draft form to a very high standard. It requires some minor adjustments in terms of further discussion and it will be published in the coming weeks.

Reference was also made to consultant-led clinical care. It was the policy of Deputy Kelleher’s Government - one that I would not necessarily dispute - that there be more consultant-delivered care rather than consultant-led care. The recruitment of consultants is no more difficult than it ever was. There are always certain areas and specialties where it is difficult to attract consultants.

Deputy Kelleher said mental health had been grossly underfunded. The Government committed €35 million last year and the previous year, and €20 million has been committed this year with a commitment to deliver a further €15 million next year in additional funding to mental health. I will not take any lectures from Deputy Kelleher on how we fund mental health.