Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is somewhat less, not substantially. I accept that and I accept the incidence of cystic fibrosis is higher here. The Deputy is probably aware there are many reasons for that. The issue is a priority. In each of the last three years, since I became Minister for Health and Children, we have put specific ring-fenced funding into the area of cystic fibrosis. In the service plan approval I gave to the HSE before Christmas for 2008, I made special reference to the need to strengthen the facilities for cystic fibrosis patients.

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