Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am interested specifically in what happens when these targets are not met. When I asked the CEOs of the hospitals, their answer was that they were crossing their fingers in hopes that would not happen. In the event that it does happen, what direction has the Minister given the CEOs on where they should start to cut? Their word, not mine, was “unrealistic” to describe the stretch income targets. These are not just the income targets that have been set, but additional targets. When they have to cut, what direction is the Minister giving them on what is to be cut? At the committee meeting, Liam Woods of the HSE said the cuts would not be in clinical areas. They are already instructed to make all the cuts they can in non-clinical areas. Where is the axe going to fall? What direction has the Department given them on where the cuts are to happen?

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