Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The work of restructuring, in terms of the Croke Park agreement, its review and its implementation, and squeezing the maximum out of the programme, in order to lessen the impact on front line services, is under way. The decision on the agreement reached in respect of the cost of drugs will yield substantial savings of €400 million over the coming three years. The decisions and agreements on consultants rostering, some of which may go to the Labour Court, will bring about savings in the future. I would like to have seen these things happen by now but, for a variety of difficulties, they could not be finalised.

For the foreseeable future, between now and the end of the year, the Minister for Health must make adjustments to his budget. In each case, the review will be carried out sensitively and with a degree of understanding. I would much prefer to be saying here that we are in a position to continue the level of hours for home help services and to expand the service between now and the end of the year. However, that is not the reality.

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