Health Minister James Reilly has said health spending is 'well within parameters' and his Department had nothing to fear from planned monthly reporting to the Troika.

He was responding following Troika concerns about overspending in the health system and its proposal to seek monthly reports from the Government on controlling our health spending.

However, Fianna Fail Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher claimed the Troika's move indicated that Minister Reilly was 'completely out of his depth'.

He said it was clear that promised savings in the health sector earmarked for this year would not materialise unless there was sustained and constant scrutiny by the EU/ECB/IMF Troika.

Mr Kelleher said we could not have a repeat of last year's situation where a supplementary allocation of €360 million was needed at the end of the year.

Dr Reilly said there were always difficulties with an finite budget and unlimited demand, but he had been assured by HSE chief Tony O'Brien that spending was currently well within parameters.

He said there were now far greater controls than we had before.