Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before I go to Deputy Durkan, I wish to ask a few questions. If the national service plan keeps missing its targets by €600 million or €700 million, is there a problem with the national service plan process? Are the predictive values of the national service plan consistently off-target? How can this be adjusted, and is the process fit for purpose?

My second question concerns health insurance, which, I think, will be estimated this year to be down €100 million. Is that €100 million from €621 million of a previous year? In Sláintecare, there is a proposal that private care be removed from public hospitals and it is outlined how the Department and the HSE would fill that gap. However, that gap is getting smaller now, by €100 million this year. Is that the case?

Finally, I think there is a €50 million increase in funding to the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS. Could the witnesses break down that €50 million into the categories it represents in respect of the PCRS?