Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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I would not necessarily be in the camp of people who say the HSE is overspending. I would be more of the view that the organisation is underfunded. Indeed, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council also drew attention to the fact that the funding allocated by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform was not sufficient to take account of the significant demographic increase in the population and the fact that it is ageing. I am not saying, therefore, that the HSE is overspending.

I am, though, curious about why it is that the budget campaigns in the months during the run-up to budget days in recent years have been so unsuccessful in terms of making the case to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and, thereby, ensuring that adequate funding is provided. This is notwithstanding the need to get value for money and improve productivity. Structural issues exist in relation to the budget campaign that results in the HSE being underfunded for the following year. Am I correct in saying this?