Mr. Colm Desmond:

We have a view that there are deficit drivers currently in acute hospitals, for example, in the primary care reimbursement scheme, PCRS, demand-led schemes, and in disability services and in the treatment abroad scheme. There are pressures in those areas and we are able to identify them at this point in time. We would do scenario planning with our colleagues in the HSE but at this time, on current trends, we see the risk of a deficit. That is a matter of concern for the Minister and for the Government and we are working actively to manage the process with our colleagues.