Labour predicted "real and deep cutbacks" in the health services as a result of today's Estimates.
The party's health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, said patients would be forced to pay increased charges for essential services such as A&E and hospital beds in order to pay for the health budget in the year ahead.
The estimates mean the minister is bringing another "raft" of medical charges and stealth taxes, she said.
"The major cut of 8 per cent in the Estimates for the building and equipping of hospitals will cause even greater difficulties for hospitals already struggling to meet their current demands," Ms McManus said.
"The Government will talk up the €10billion increase in the health budget but it disguises the avalanche of capacity cuts, stealth increases and charges that lie ahead for taxpayers who rely on the health service," Ms McManus added.
Fine Gael's health spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said that despite "all the hype of a bumper €10 billion health budget next year", the reality is that there is a "pathetic" additional €38 million available to pay for any improvements in hospital services, community support services, home help, disability programmes, orthodontics, nursing home subventions, services for the elderly and mental health.
The Green Party's finance spokesman, Mr Dan Boyle, said the Estimates provided just a two per cent increase in funds to improve public services. The "modest" five per cent increase in overall spending by the minister was "largely eaten up" through public sector pay increases, he said.
"Most disturbing are the cuts proposed within the capital programme in the areas of public transport infrastructure and Environmental Protection facilities. ThevGovernment's failure to provide adequately in these areas gives a real indication of the priority which they attach to them."
The Sinn Fein leader in the Dail, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said the increased charges for health services were "absolutely disgraceful".
"These charges are a further blow to those whose income is just above the limit for the medical card. They will now face higher costs for medicines after another significant increase last year. The Government is charging more money for less services," he said.