Mr. Colm Desmond:

It is in line with the priorities set out in the national development plan for a broad range of large projects. A number of projects relating to the maternity hospital are identified in the plan. It is clear it is a question of proceeding as the available capital programme allows, on a multi-annual basis, to determine what we can achieve. The current priority has been preparatory work on the move of the maternity hospital to the St. Vincent's site. Funding has been set aside in the capital plan for the preparatory work, while pre-preparatory work on the site is under way. Work on proposals for the development of maternity services is ongoing.

The other projects, such as the Coombe and others, are slightly further along. A decision was made that the maternity hospital would be developed in conjunction with the development of the children's hospital, which would be completed first. We are working within that timeframe on the development of maternity services generally.