Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I speak, the Joint Committee on Health is discussing the same issue relating to that Department and others. I see two issues. One is the degree to which budgeting projections are accurate. If they are not accurate, are there not contingencies? If not, why not? I would not regard it as good policy to find that individual Departments or their subordinate bodies were running shy of what was anticipated at the beginning of the year in one way or another, either short or ahead of expenditure. I ask the Minister if any specific action is being taken to ensure that all Departments either project accurately or remain within budget.

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