Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There are budgetary pressures every year in regard to the health budget and managers have to manage the situation as they see it. In some cases, this has meant that some new development areas have not seen the level of expenditure in a given financial year as was originally envisaged. Working within budget allocations is a particularly difficult task, especially in the health service, but it is one that must be respected if we are to have sustainable improvements in the future. In the case of both mental health and palliative care, I expect the allocated moneys will be expended this year.

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