Tallaght chief: Patients should not be affected

The Chief Executive of Tallaght Hospital says patient care should not be affected by its decision to apply for a €12m bank overdraft.

Eilish Hardiman says the overdraft is a "normal" facility available to voluntary hospitals and it has been used in the past.

The hospital is projecting a budget deficit of €10m for this year.

Ms Hardiman says Tallaght should be able to continue to provide patient care though, because of greater efficiencies in the Emergency Department.