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

The reason for the allocation announced today is because the budget provision at the commencement of the year was inaccurate and false. This was pointed out before the election, including by the HSE chief executive officer when he said very explicitly that there was an under-provision for the health service, which has been under a death sentence for a number of years in terms of a lack of planning or vision. They are the words of the CEO of the HSE, not mine, as stated in the context of the health service plan.

The winter initiative is a hardy annual which had been announced already. I am still not clear on whether the €500 million will cover the overruns about which we learned when we met the health officials during talks prior to the formation of Government. These officials were estimating dramatic increases in the first two months of the year above allocated levels and projecting a significant deficit by the end of the year. This all points to a fundamental lack of transparency around health budgeting. The last three budgets have not provided the Dáil with an honest portrayal of health service requirements and needs.

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