Mr. Jim Breslin:

The HSE's capital plan is quite significant. It is about €640 million. A large proportion, approximately 75%, of that is contractually committed so there is a very reduced flexibility after that. Our second challenge is the national children's hospital, as the Deputy just mentioned, and the impact that has had on the overall national capital budget and the implication that has for the HSE.

The discussion that the HSE and the Department have had has been about what level of funding would be required from the HSE to support the extra investment needed in the children's hospital and what implications that will have on the HSE's capital budget.