Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What contingency plans are being put in place by the Minister for Health in the event of an overrun in the health budget in 2016 and will he make a statement on the matter? This leads from the point that next year there will be different fiscal rules applicable to Departments in the context of supplementary budgets. This year the Minister for Health has a €600 million budget deficit. Other than a sum of €280 million, no additional funding was allocated to the Minister for 2016 in last week's budget. The health service will be commencing 2016 under-resourced and underfunded. What contingency plans is the Minister putting in place in view of the fact that, as we know, he will have insufficient funding for the health services in 2016?

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