Mr. Tony O'Brien:

The truth is that there has not been a month this year - I think I am right in saying this - when we have not been, to some extent, over budget. January might have been an exception. We are engaged in a constant performance dialogue with the Department around our best estimate - in fact, we give a range of our best and worst estimates of what the end of year position might be. This is discussed with officials, Ministers and in committees, such as the Cabinet committee on health. At a certain point in time, we will have to reach a joint view as to where we think it will land. That obviously involves colleagues from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as well, who have responsibility for the Supplementary Estimates in a global sense. We are not yet ready to call that. There are actions which we are taking to contain the extent of that and there are parameters we are working to on the basis of shared understanding and knowledge of what performance is likely to be.