Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The health budget was of the order of €13.5 billion. It is a multifaceted, complex system that is demand-led. We cannot guarantee that the pressures on hospitals can be accurately forecasted, nor can we do so for the number of people applying for medical cards or any of the other variable factors. I do not yet know the quantum of the Supplementary Estimate but it will be a tiny fraction of the €13.5 billion. It is a little much to say that we did not allocate sufficient funds. It is very difficult to do but we will do it more accurately. The HSE is transforming itself to have more accountable timelined controls and we will see the follow-through next year.

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