Ms Michele Tait:

Originally, when the hepatitis C insurance scheme was established, the expected cost was in the region of €90 million. That figure of €90 million was based on an evaluation that was done at that time by the then Department of Health and Children. The expenditure on the insurance scheme to date has been around €9 million in the ten or 12 years since it has been established. We do not expect that the costs will be €90 million over the duration of the scheme. We do not have a current estimate of what we think it might be, but we do not believe it will be €90 million.