Reilly hopes to avoid overrun

Health Minister James Reilly has admitted that he does not know if he will be able to get his budget under control this year.

A 2% increase in demand for the health service — twice what was planned for — has led to the HSE overspend, he claimed.

He said he could not say whether the €100m worth of budget-busting which has alarmed the troika will be eradicated.