Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In the context of overruns and budgetary pressures, the question of reducing costs to the Exchequer is not a matter of diverting funds but of saving them in budgets that are already under stress. The Minister for Health and Children outlined in last night's debate the extent of the overrun and the fact that a certain amount has been catered for in the service plan. The net figure she gave is less than the figure mentioned by the Deputy. It is not a question of saving some money which can then be put towards the health service. What we are doing is saving money that is being spent by the health service in respect of those who have a contractual relationship with the health service for the provision of services. It is a question of reducing output costs rather than providing extra money for subsequent spending in other areas.

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