Ms Louise McGirr:

The Minister sets the overall funding via the letter of determination. In an organisation the size of the HSE I think there always will be overspend in some areas and underspend in other areas. Obviously, it is a complex and at times demand-led organisation. Where we have variances and where there are underspends, we work with colleagues and obviously we have to sanction the rerouting or reallocation of money. This happened a lot in 2021, perhaps not a lot but it certainly happened in terms of Covid-related spend where there was some underspend on core funding, largely due to recruitment in some areas not being met. That money was, with our approval and at times where appropriate the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's approval, moved to Covid-related spend. That is a practical example of it. That would not be unusual in an organisation the size of the HSE.