Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The HSE's financial deficit more than doubled in February, to €56 million. It is now predicted that there will be an overrun of hundreds of millions of euro by the end of the year. It looks like the first-quarter financial deficit - that is, the deficit built up by the end of March - will be €100 million. The Minister told a Cabinet sub-committee last week that the HSE will exceed its allocation before the end of the year, or alternatively will have to face introducing cuts to patient services. He also said it was drawing up measures to punish hospitals that have exceeded their allocations. The House has long accepted the fraudulent presentation of financial figures in relation to health. Over €500 million was produced at the end of last year. The same thing happened the year before. Will the Taoiseach confirm honestly that there will be a significant Supplementary Estimate this year to cover the undoubted overruns that will occur in the health sector because of the fraudulent set of figures that were provided, yet again, in last year's budget for the health services? If one travels out of this House and goes into the hospitals, one will see that morale is at an all-time low in the health services. Staff are fed up with the lack of leadership and direction from the Government. They do not know whether they are coming or going. It seems this House does not know what the financial situation is in relation to health. Can the Taoiseach confirm that a Supplementary Estimate for health will be brought before the House?

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