Will the Minister explain why the Government has chosen to impose expenditure levies on Departments given that the State is currently running a surplus of more than €9 billion? The State has run surplus budgets for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, all while the top 10% hold nearly 50% of total net wealth in this country and the number of super rich has doubled in the past five years. Successive Governments did not apply this approach to the Department of Health, despite repeated overruns and Supplementary Estimates year after year.

Yet, now Departments such as the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are being required to absorb levies and make reductions, including the pay and pensions levies. Can the Minister explain the rationale for imposing cuts when the Exchequer has the resources available? As a Cabinet Minister who has been in many Government Departments, can she confirm whether all Departments are being treated equally under this approach or whether some Departments are receiving exemptions that others are not?

I think the Deputy would agree that our budget year on year has increased. We had a budget last year of €105.4 billion. Within that, each Department is given a specific budget and within each Department, we are all expected to work within that overall budget. In terms of health, it is the case, and has to be the case, that if the HSE is given a particular budget, we work within that and where there are overspends or changes that are required, that is all done in line with that overall budget because if we overspend in one area, there are potential implications for a patient in another part of the country and we start to see that impact. Irrespective of what Department it is, we are all given budgets that are set for us. It is always important to try to stick within those budgets. However, we have a process in place where if there is a need or demand, Departments can engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. We have a process later in the year when it comes to our budget if there are overruns or there is need for overspends. Insofar as possible, however, Departments have to stick within our budgets. The Deputy will see that our budget was €105.4 billion last year. That is to cope with the increased demand and the need for increased services, including in health.