Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to think that would be the case, and I sincerely hope it is, but it has not been in recent years. We get the kickback from the public when they hear about an excess expenditure over either negotiated or budgeted ceilings in various Departments. They do not see that on the ground, and they do not see it in respect of health. Perhaps the HSE was right and it has cost €700 million to stand still. There is a big hoo-ha about the finance sought by the HSE being made available to it but, at the end of the day, we do not see the improvements that are necessary for delivery in the Department of Health. People then become frustrated to hear about that. It is the same in the Department of Education and Skills, which is €69 million over the ceiling to date this year. The figure for last year was €60 million. The figure for the Department of Health this year to date is €340 million, and possibly €700 overall; that is the estimate. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government was €385 million over the ceiling in 2017. Again, people do not see that reflected on the ground. They do not see the amount of social and affordable housing that is necessary being provided. They see the delays associated with it and so forth. Apart from what the Minister said relating to the Department of Health and the expectations of those in senior offices, what controls can he put in place to ensure that either negotiated or budgeted ceilings, or a combination of both, might be adhered to in the future?

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