Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What I can confirm to Deputy Ó Caoláin is that the process followed here is well known to him. Deputy Ó Caoláin was at the meeting yesterday. He is aware of the Minister's intention to attend the committee once due process has been followed in respect of provision of the HSE service plan. The budget takes place in October. Then there is a Vote given for the health Estimate for 2014. Following that, the Health Service Executive has a requirement to produce its draft plan on how it intends to run the services for 2014 based on that figure. That draft plan is sent to the Minister for Health for his approval or amendment and acceptance of the report. The Minister has until Monday, 16 December to respond to the Health Service Executive following his having received the draft programme. That is the system that operates.

The Minister is currently going through the draft plan as submitted by the Health Service Executive. He has already made clear that for this year he requires a Supplementary Estimate of €199 million. This is not the first time this has happened in the Department of Health.

Clearly, he indicated last September or October that something less than €200 million would be required in respect of 2013. In response to Deputy Ó Caoláin, it is a matter for the committee as to when it wants the Minister to attend. I expect the Minister will comply-----

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