Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the Deputy's point on board, but I am not sure that there is any policy of focusing on additional administrative staff instead of front-line staff within the HSE. I can only speak for myself however. If we want to be pedantic about it and talk about what administrators do, I am sure they would argue that a lot of their time is spent dealing with the political process, that is, portraying accountability, openness and transparency. Are we to cut back on that as well? However, that is just an aside.

Deputy Durkan also asked about Naas General Hospital and its endoscopy unit. That is part of the capital plan that is being developed at the moment. As I said to my colleague about Bantry General Hospital, all of those projects are currently being progressed through the national capital plan within the Department and the HSE. Deputy Durkan's enthusiasm and support for the project is noted.

The Chairman asked about Sláintecare, its development and where the corresponding proposal is included in the estimates. An additional €25 million has been allocated to primary care, which is part of that. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, has committed to bringing several specific proposals on Sláintecare and its development to Cabinet in the next several weeks. We will have to wait for those to come through the Cabinet before I can bring them to this committee. Those proposals will answer the Deputy's questions about the specifics of Sláintecare and progress thereon.

On the technical side-----