Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I have substantially increased the capital funding available to the Health Service Executive this year. Once I approve a capital programme, I do not try to find out how it is spent every week. In light of the Teamwork report and given the decision made and endorsed by the Government that we will have a new, state-of-the-art hospital for the region, any decisions made about spending on capital projects or otherwise should fit in with that overall approach. The region merits and has long deserved a state-of-the-art hospital. In particular, the urgent developments that need to take place in Monaghan, Cavan, Drogheda and Navan will happen and the HSE will ensure they do so quickly. Professor Brendan Drumm and his team are committed to making that happen quickly.

When we examine budgets and bed numbers in Mullingar and Cavan hospitals, the outputs are different. This may be because of some of the issues raised by Deputy Twomey. However, throughout the country we see wide variations and the purpose of reform is to try to have every hospital performing to the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness. Mr. John O'Brien and his team at the National Hospitals Office are working hospital by hospital to try to bring that about. The more hospitals learn from each other and work together, the sooner we will achieve that target.

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