Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The Minister indicated all that was required was the authorisation of the Department of Finance in a case like this but that is not true. Will she confirm that in respect of a deviation such as this the practice followed by the former health boards was that the accountancy department in the section concerned had to authorise the over-expenditure in the first instance and the non-expenditure under the other heading? Following this, authorisation was provided by the Department of Finance, not the other way around.

The Minister referred to overspending of €200 million several years ago by the former health boards. Will she confirm that the then Minister and the Department knew of the overspending well in advance, it was monitored on a regular basis, the Minister was kept up to date and it was not a surprise by any stretch of the imagination?

With regard to overall expenditure on health services, this is a new but dangerous system. Will she confirm that, normally, clear indications were given at regular intervals throughout the year regarding expenditure under capital and current headings and any deviation from that had to be immediately authorised by the Accounting Officer with health board staff and members being notified at an early date?

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