James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

It is no surprise we have the second highest increase in spending while we have come from being the second lowest out of 28 countries only a few years ago. I have a letter from Mr. Woods, the national director of finance. The HSE sought €14.7 million to maintain existing services but the Minister has decided to give them €14.1 million. Was there an agreement to that effect or was it determined by her Department that this is how it should be? This being the case, is this the reason we have had promises of such a run of cutbacks in this coming year? I refer to a reduction of 25% in orthopaedic elective surgery in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, a reduction in surgical activity in Louth County Hospital, including elimination of on-call and the establishment of a shorter working day, a reduction in outpatient clinics in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, possibly being reduced by one day per week, Friday, reduced outpatient clinics to four days a week——

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