Mr. Bob Patterson:

When we prepared the programme business case for the overall electives programme, we looked at a series of options across the board. Under the spending code, you are traditionally required to look at both "a do nothing" and "a do the minimum" option. On the basis of the strategic assessment report we were already looking at three locations in Cork, Dublin and Galway. We expanded that in our selection process to include options for an elective hospital in each health region. We looked at elective hospitals in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. We also looked at the option of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo and Athlone. When it came to the overall objectives of the programme, it is clear that it is a national programme serving a national population. Cork, Dublin and Galway were looked at in terms of 90 km as the crow flies, 120 km road distance or two hours travelling time. With the isochrome created there, we found that Cork, Dublin and Galway were able to meet more than 80% of the population.