THE MINISTER FOR Public Expenditure and Reform has said that changes have to be made to the health system.

Brendan Howlin was speaking to Pat Kenny today on Newstalk FM, where he criticised the HSE.

Howlin said that attempting long-term change on the health system was difficult, agreeing with Kenny’s notion that it was like “trying to change the spark plugs when the car is moving”.

“Changing the structure of a 24-hour service and keeping that service operational is a massive challenge.  You can’t stop it working.

“Health is a demand-led service so there is a pressure that comes with it.

The HSE is a superstructure placed on top of a creaking organisation and it is not fit for purpose

Asked about specific changes that can be made, Howling said that some 1,500 administrators were identified as not being necessary to the executive. He added that all of the 15 government departments were on target in terms of their expenditure.

“The troika is not focused on expenditure particularly. We had to cut expenditure and broaden the tax base, which we have done.”

Read: Emergency motion on disability cuts to be brought to Dublin City Council

Read: Will Ireland’s junior doctors go on strike?