Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is doing well. For the first time in my memory, after three months the Department of Health is on line in terms of budget. That has not happened over the previous six budgets. In terms of the Exchequer figures published last week, spend across Departments is running at 0.9% below on the current side and is slightly up on the capital side because of the additional spend on housing. As late as yesterday the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, told me that he will not need additional provision to meet that €120 million. That is good news. On the other hand, no provision was made for Irish Water and the abolition of water charges. I do not know yet where the bill in respect of the refund of water charges, as recommended by the committee, is going to land in the context of legislation. In setting out the Estimates for Irish Water we agreed a budget with it and built it into the expenditure figures going forward.