Health overspend ‘will wipe out majority of fiscal space’

Department of Health officials have told Independents attending a Fianna Fáil negotiations briefing a €300m health service overspend risks taking up the majority of the fiscal space available to the country this year.

The dose of reality was outlined during the last day of talks between Micheál Martin’s party and unaligned TDs about what is on offer for anyone entering government.

During lengthy discussions between Mr Martin, his four-strong negotiating team, and the six-strong Independent Alliance on nine topics including housing, education, Irish Water, and health, Department of Health officials provided a detailed overview of the money available to health this year.