There are five cataract consultants. It is probably the highest number in any hospital outside Dublin. They are technically being under-utilised in regard to eye surgery and cataracts. There is a practical proposal, costing €3 million, that would pay for itself in one and a half to two years because fewer people would be referred to the NTPF. It is cost neutral. It is a detailed proposal from the clinical director in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. I ask that it be considered seriously.

On the second issue concerning the hospital in Cork, growth in Dublin is continuing but growth in Cork will escalate at a fast pace over the next ten years. We need to deal with this hospital issue immediately. There are now 130,000 additional people living in Cork without one extra hospital bed open in the period. That is a lot of people. There is also a change in demographics. I ask that the hospital be given priority.