The Health Service Executive (HSE) says it will need exceptional focus to break even next year, even though it got an extra €625m in funding for the health budget.

The HSE is publishing its divisional operational plans for 2015 this morning - breaking down spending on sectors like mental health, acute hospitals and social care.

Despite an increased budget, funding for acute hospitals in 2015 is down on what the HSE was expected to spend this year by 0.8%.

The HSE says huge efforts will have to be made in the new year to reduce agency staff so that the hospital system reaches an affordable level by mid-February.