Budget overruns - Pathetic excuses for overspend

The opposition have landed some devastating political blows on the Government yesterday over the waste in employing consultants.

This is especially the case in regards to the cost overruns incurred by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in implementing the Payroll, Personnel and Related Services (PPARS) computer system.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tried to defend the system as necessary in the consolidation of the 11 disparate Health Boards into a single executive. “The new HSE,” he said, “now has a proper system.”