Mr. Jim Breslin:

Yes, but it is not only financial information that is used; we also have other information sources. We receive information through the hospital information inquiry system. We also have information on medical cards and so on; there are good IT systems in the PCRS. We have to develop capability while information systems are developed in parallel rather than waiting for everything to be perfect. There is a significant IT programme under way under the chief information officer in the HSE. It has identified this as an absolutely priority in improving health service performance. In so many areas of health service performance, information is key to the quality decision-making needed.