Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions. Our data show that we are doing more emergency and fewer elective procedures each year. If these trends continue all work will be emergency work and we will be unable to accommodate elective work. When do we reach that point? Will Mr. O'Brien indicate whether it will be next year or in five to ten years' time?

I am concerned about the amount of money available between 2017 and 2021 in the capital space to pay for our ambulances, X-ray machines and MRI scanning equipment? The €2.25 billion, however, does not meet the €3.64 billion that is required in order to meet the long list of priority replacements so we have an immediate problem. If there is no additional funding, can Mr. O'Brien give an indication of how that plays out? Will funding be provided for years one to three - 2017 to 2019, inclusive - and then one hits a cliff or is the budget stretched over five years and the problems start kicking in during 2017? Will Mr. O'Brien give the committee a flavour of the situation?