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

This approach is obviously at the heart of producing ceilings and the analysis we have in front of us. Let us talk about health, at page 77, if we could. Deputy Sean Fleming and the Minister, Deputy Howlin, have already had the conversation about the Supplementary Estimate. The Minister himself has set out the €647 million over and above what had been envisaged was required. This was just to keep the system at par, not to do anything spectacular and even with that, we still faced into a deep crisis within our accident and emergency facilities across the State. One could add to that any number of other shortfalls and dilemmas within the system. Is the Minister saying that, on the basis of performance budgeting and the other analytical tools that have been applied, he is convinced the figures set out here for 2015, 2016 and 2017 are not just ceilings to be adhered to, but represent a sufficient resource to deliver a sufficient service to the citizens of this State?