Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Health and Children will, under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, oversee the spending of some €2 billion for the provision of infrastructure in the hospital system. It is an ongoing matter for the Minister not only to provide for buildings and equipment but also to cater for running costs in the years ahead. This issue is ongoing in several hospitals. The Minister must, from the €2 billion being spent on health infrastructure, continue to provide resources for the non-pay side in terms of full staffing and non-pay costs for the year ahead.

That is what this memo was about. The question of the memo being leaked is a matter for the Departments of Health and Children and Finance, and that matter is under discussion. It is to the advantage of the country's infrastructure that so many major and minor infrastructural projects are under way. Many of these are being commissioned this year and many others will be commissioned next year. The related equipment, staffing and non-pay costs must be built into them. This is an ongoing issue between the Departments of Health and Children and Finance.

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