Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin and Mr. Tony O'Brien and their colleagues who are appearing before the committee. I acknowledge the work of health workers throughout the country and the importance of what they do for us and the efforts made to save money in these difficult times.

I will commence with the deficit. There was a deficit of €80.4 million at the end of March, of which the acute hospital sector accounted for €62.9 million. This contrasts with a deficit for the same period last year of €26.7 million. May I have an explanation for that? How does the HSE and the Department of Health expect it to pan out through the year, as there is a considerable difference, and what is being done to ensure the deficit does not get out of hand?