Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for her questions. She has raised a number of broad issues. I am not sure if we have a figure for agency staff here but I will get it to the Deputy as soon as possible. She asked a very direct question about how much we are still spending on agency staff. I know that there has been some conversion this year on that but I will endeavour to get the exact figure for Deputy O'Reilly.

The Deputy makes a very valid point about the savings figure of €346 million in terms of how it was calculated and the details of that. What I am clearly saying is that the HSE did not achieve the targets set for it in terms of making savings across the three very important areas identified. What is wrong here? Is the issue the HSE's inability to achieve targets or is it that the targets set were unachievable? That is the question the Deputy asks.