Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government allocated approximately €600 million in regard to Sláintecare. A number of those measures were what I described as Sláintecare-friendly or Sláintecare enablers. Did we allocate €600 million specifically for Sláintecare? No, we did not. Obviously, we had to operate within the resources available.

Regarding the legislation, most of it is being considered in the context of the implementation plan. That is the current status of it, with the exception that I am at an advanced stage with the Health Service Executive, HSE, board legislation, which is quite straightforward legislation. I expect and hope to be able to bring that to Cabinet around the same time as the implementation plan, with the agreement of Members of the House. It is a matter for the House but if we could take that swiftly, I would like to see a priority attached to it in terms of getting it passed as quickly as possible in 2018 in order that we can have the board in place in 2018. I will return to the other legislation in the context of the implementation plan.