Professor Michael McMahon:

I will repeat the answer I gave last time I was in front of the committee on this. The answer is we do not know exactly but I can see a situation where, at least from the evidence we have heard from other people who are much closer to health systems, it is very difficult to run a health system to meet existing levels of service particularly over winter months etc., if you are underprovided for. I cannot give the Deputy a breakdown as to how much or how much of the extra €0.6 billion would be due to having to pay extra for locums or these things. I can imagine there is an amount but someone from the HSE or the Department of Health would be better placed to answer that.