Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I tried to clarify that as best I could in my opening statement when dealing with subheads I1, I2, I3, I4 and I5. Income for the HSE is not counted in the Vote, which is why it is presented in this way. What we can add to €8,411,717 is the additional €131 million from the health insurers. Under J4, mental health, there is an increase from €41.57 million to €50 million, a €9 million increase. If we are comparing like with like, the figure should be €8.541 million rather than €8.411 million, but the disestablishment of the HSE Vote means that non-Exchequer income does not go into the Estimates. The income the HSE gets from sources other than the Exchequer is separate.

With regard to hospital groups, I do not expect many savings this year because they must be got up and running. They are up and running quite well in Limerick and Saolta but not so much in Munster and the east. In time, there will be savings and economies of scale as health services are reorganised. I do not expect significant savings this year.