Reilly accused of ‘slight on elderly’ over budget

James Reilly, the health minister, was accused of a “slight on the elderly” after he blamed an ageing population for a €60m overrun in this year’s health budget.

Fianna Fáil said the cabinet reshuffle “could not come quick enough because Minister Reilly should be moved on” after he revealed his department is in line to overspend its budget for a third year running.

At a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party in Laois, Dr Reilly told reporters “we are a couple of euro over”, which he said was not significant in the “overall scheme of things”.