Budget 2024

Exclusive: €2bn health overrun derails budget

Paschal Donohoe and Stephen Donnelly to have crisis talks as fears grow over the potential impact of the overruns on the overall €11 billion budget package

Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health: the hole in the health budget threatens to scupper the government’s broader spending plans. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

A near €2 billion overrun in Stephen Donnelly’s department has derailed any new health measures in next week’s budget, the Business Post can reveal.

With intense negotiations continuing this weekend, the hole in the health budget threatens to scupper the government’s broader spending plans, senior sources have confirmed.

The issue will come to a head this week as Donnelly, the Minister for Health, and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe are due to have a crunch ...