Mr. Tony O'Brien:

On the issue of non-signing, if bodies have not signed by the due date, the final day of February, and we are not satisfied that there is a good reason, then we withhold 20% of funding thereafter. That funding can be restored once the necessary documentation has been handled. There is a separate process where the level of funding to be agreed in each year is reviewed. There are often reductions and there are savings targets. Everything that the Deputy sees in the HSE's service plan about targets set for us globally is then reflected throughout our system in the service arrangements. This specific matter is about the failure to sign by a given date and that is when 20% of funding is withheld.