Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to return to the issue of elective hospitals. While Ms Magahy has answered some questions on this issue already, I am a little confused because the committee got the same answers to questions on this issue 12 months ago. If one takes Cork as an example, a number of sites are clearly suitable for the development of a new elective hospital, one being in Sarsfield Court, which has more than 100 acres and is owned by the HSE. My understanding from Ms Magahy's comments this morning is that while a proposal will be made to the Government by the end of the year, that proposal will not identify the preferred site of development. I am confused about timelines in this regard because if the plan does not identify the site, we will spend another six to 12 months identifying a site, another two years trying to get planning permission and a further three years building the hospital. I am confused that although there is an area in which no new hospital bed has been provided in the past 30 years and which has experienced a huge growth in population, we seem to be pushing paper around without any clear answers. Four weeks ago, I asked the Minister for an update in writing. What Ms Magahy has presented to us today is not in writing. I would like it put in writing that a proposal will be made to the Government by the end of the year and that I do not have to ask the same questions in February 2021.

The second issue I wish to raise concerns community healthcare. In the past four years, as I understand the figures, there has been a 17% increase in the number of nurse managers and nurses within the hospital system. At the same time, the number of public health nurses has only increased by 3.5%. What are the plans to increase the level of qualified people at ground level within the community? I have seen no evidence of the increase in numbers in the professions that we require to provide healthcare within the community.