Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is more difficult than I think we would all like it to be. Let us take this year as an example. I am here looking at another €1 billion in cash, or let us say €1.5 billion. Last year, in good faith, assumptions were made around the increase in patient demand and the increase in costs. It is fair to say that this year both these are way ahead of what we thought they would be.