I thank the Minister and the chief executive for their submissions. I will focus on one or two issues. I have raised the issue of cataract operations in Cork over the past six or eight weeks.

The Minister will be aware there is a huge problem regarding cataract operations being done in Cork. Last year, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital sent out over 600 cases to the NTPF. I have made a submission to the Minister, which I understand has also gone to the HSE, that were an extra theatre put in place in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, ten or 12 cataract operations could be done a day, five days a week. There are five consultants in that area in that hospital; they each have only one day per week in theatre. As a result, they are dealing with very serious eye complaints and therefore, cataract operations are pushed to the back and are not being dealt with. I am advised that were there a second theatre dealing with this, the problem would be resolved and that it would pay for itself within a year and a half to two years. The cost is €3 million. Can I get a detailed reply to that submission? Many people are travelling outside of Cork, some to Northern Ireland, and it is the direct result of the facility not being there to do the operation.

The second question relates to the growth in the population of Cork. Much work has been done around new hospitals in Dublin and we are talking about three elective hospitals around the country. They are vital for the areas for which they are designated. What progress has been made in respect of Cork or when we can progress the process? Even if we identified a site this morning, it would take at least two years to go through the design and planning process and being realistic, it would be three years before reaching the stage of putting in foundations. It needs to be prioritised in Cork. A huge amount of work is going out of Cork at present because it lacks the capacity to deal with all the work that is there. There is a population of more than 550,000, which will grow dramatically in the next three to four years, when one considers the development of new offices and all the companies expanding in Cork. There will be an automatic growth in population, as well as catering for the work out of Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, and Kerry.