Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a section in the presentation on efficiencies, for which the estimate is €346 million. From where did that figure come? How was it calculated? How much of it has been achieved? Specifically, what components make up that figure? Did it arise from discussions with the people who presumably should deliver the efficiencies?

In budget 2019 we note that current health expenditure is met from tax receipts that are unreliable. Everybody was a little surprised and I certainly would be if I was to find that kind of money lying around. Is it prudent to fund the health service in this manner because the additional funds appeared to materialise very close to budget day? There is no suggestion they can be relied on in the future. There are references throughout the documents to increasing staff costs and pressures, but surely the officials will agree with me that if they are citing an increase in population as one of the reasons for constant overruns which are increasing, there should be a consequent increase in the number of personnel which should be easy to plan for. For example, a certain number born plus a certain number turning 85 years is equal to a certain number of staff. Can the officials give us a breakdown of the grades, groups and categories of staff that make up the increase? If they do not have the figures, perhapsthey can provide them afterwards.

Mr. Mulvany has said the HSE does not hold a contingency provision.

I am sure Mr. Desmond will say anything would be better than having no contingency at all but in terms of best practice, does he have an idea as to what kind of figure would be needed for contingency? People came to microphones and explained that the flu came as a surprise or winter came as a surprise. How much would it be prudent to have as a contingency and are there plans to have that amount in the future?

The figure for efficiencies was over-estimated. To what extent was that flagged? Has there been correspondence between the two organisations to comment on funding from volatile corporation tax receipts? Has anyone flagged that this might not be the best way to fund the health service?