The Health Minister James Reilly says that just one in ten people dealing with the finances of the HSE have specific financial training.

He made the remarks in response to questions about how his department would achieve savings of 780-million euro next year.

The department of health had to apply for a supplementary budget in 2012 because of major cost overruns.

But minister Reilly has told the Dail that extra staff with  specific financial training have been hired to help the HSE meet its targets next year.