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

Will the Government give specific time for discussion of the health Estimates, because there is total confusion in terms of what health has received in this year's budget? The huge supplementary provision of €600 million illustrates the dishonesty that has been at the centre of health Estimates over the past three years. This has caused significant distress in hospitals and led to extended waiting times for both outpatient and inpatient cases.

Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, outdid himself in the spin department. He announced health funding of €13.175 billion for current expenditure in 2016, allegedly an increase of €900 million, but on budget day last year he announced Exchequer funding of €13.079 billion in current expenditure - a difference of approximately €96 million. Somewhere in between he has lost close to €800 million. Then, yesterday, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, stated in the expenditure report that health was getting an increase of €280 million. He also said that health spending was now at pre-crash levels.

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