Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator O'Brien also asked about the HSE and the figure for cuts in health. As he is aware, the health service savings target for next year is €666 million, which is set out in the 2014 Estimates. The HSE must prepare and adopt its 2014 national service plan for submission to the Minister for Health within 21 days of the publication by the Government of the Estimates for supplied services for 2014, which is Tuesday, 5 November.

The national service plan must indicate the type and volume of health and personal social services that the HSE will provide during 2014. Clearly, what is involved here is much more difficult than preparing an ordinary business plan. Some rather ridiculous comparisons were made by those on the opposite side of the House in this regard.