Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Health expenditure for January, February and March was on profile. It was what the Department indicated it would be. It is the case, as the Deputy well knows, that for every other year, we have had Supplementary Estimates in the Department of Health. Last year, the Supplementary Estimate was far higher than previously. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and I have spoken about this. We need to deal with where we are in health and I am absolutely committed to doing far better than we have done before in this area. At the end of each year, other Departments have needed some technical Supplementary Estimates. When all these supplementary allocations are added together, they result in a material figure. What I tried to do in this year's budget in respect of the sources of Supplementary Estimates in the past for some Departments, notably the Department of Education and Skills, was to deal with that as part of their budget day package. I want to try to reduce and eliminate additional allocations for other Departments and the Minister and I are already working on health expenditure. I informed the Dáil earlier today that after Easter I will sit down with Government colleagues to review where we are with a number of particular Departments. The Minister for Health and I have already met twice now on health expenditure.