Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Every other Department had to, and did, absorb the impact of the stabilisation programme I put in place in respect of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. By and large all Departments have absorbed that into their running costs, as I would have expected. I know and see regularly that there is pressure in the hospital group mainly, as overseen by the HSE, and I will work with the Minister for Health to deal with that in the context of how the entire health service will perform.

The health service has never had more money available to it at any other point in the history of the State. We are now at the point where we need to look at how more resources can be made available in the future. I accept that and will do it on budget day. The level of resourcing now available to the HSE and our health service is at an all-time high.