Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Switching from one subhead to another and balancing the position is a matter for the Department of Finance and if the Department did not approve it, a Supplementary Estimate would be required. That is the technical procedure.

Precise detail is not provided week by week when a Department is spending €11 billion. Estimates close to budget are provided, as people try to forecast demand. Many of the schemes under the aegis of my Department, similar to other Departments, are demand-led and they can vary.

While it was known the former health boards had overdrafts, I was not aware of the extent of the overdrafts. The precise amount was not known until early 2006 and that was when the figure of €216 million emerged, comprising €90 million for staff and PRSI and approximately €130 million for the overdrafts.

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