Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----or savings. That is one area. We have a demand-led service and an aging demographic. Costs will arise in one area and the HSE may find savings in another area. How often does the HSE hold discussions prior to the budget in terms of trying to figure out the budget? Does the HSE approach the Department and tell it what is needed to run the service the following year? Does the HSE say that if the Department does not provide money that a service will be reduced? Does the Department just tell the HSE what funding it can give within the fiscal rules and ask the HSE to cut its cloth to measure?