Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I will answer the question about the surgical hub. I will ask Mr. Tierney to give the Deputy a quick update on the elective hospital for Cork, if that is helpful, and I will ask Mr. McCallion to give a quick update on specific discharge from CUH. I think Mr. McCallion is working on some of the issues the Deputy has just raised.

For my part, I am of the view that the surgical hubs should be close to the hospital. The reason for that is in order that the workforce can move because we have consultants who will be working in the hospital who can then travel across at short notice, do their elective lists and move back. Also, even though a lot of these are fairly standard procedures, there are always a small percentage of those for whom acute aftercare is required, and having the patient close to the hospital for that can be quite useful. It is worth saying that there is a very significant package of investment now being planned for CUH, including a lot of extra beds, the surgical hub, the paediatric wing, upgrades to oncology, a new trauma centre, including the helipads, and a new medical education centre. There is a very significant package of investment in infrastructure going in to support the new chief executive, David Donegan, and all the workers in CUH.

I will ask Mr. McCallion about the Deputy's first question about specific discharge from CUH.