Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond briefly to the three matters raised by the Senator. I fully agree with him that the hospital in Cork needs increased capacity, There is a particular need for acute hospital space. As the Deputy has rightly said, the population has grown significantly, but the bed base has not. That is why we announced an acute hospital development for Cork in the capital plan. We also said that Cork would receive one of three elective-only hospitals, to which I referred earlier in the context of the Scottish model following my trip to Scotland last week.

I take the point the Senator makes about the next steps in these capital projects and ensuring that, when capital funding becomes available, we will be ready to go in having the sites available and planning permission obtained in order that we will be able to go to tender. In the next few weeks I will convene the relevant stakeholders in Cork to seek an action plan on the next steps to be taken. I will keep the Senator, as well as other Oireachtas Members from Cork, informed and updated, as necessary.

Making sure we have clear management structures in place at regional level is at the core of Sláintecare. They have been lacking to date, but we will have geoalignment and one integrated structure for the community and hospitals in order that people will not get stuck in one part of the health service. There will also be a regional board in order that we will be able to look at decision makers in the eye and demand that they account for their actions.

I am pleased that we have increased investment in Cork University Hospital. We have also supported clinical autonomy in the budgetary process. The hospital has made great progress in dealing with gynaecology waiting lists. I thank Professor John Higgins and the clinical team for the work they have done in that regard. I am keen to see if we can do more to support their good work in the context of the budget. I will be happy to discuss the matter further with the Senator.