Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The reality is that any major development from start to finish takes seven or eight years. That is the lifespan involved. There is also incessant demand. Even when one improves the facilities to cater for the numbers that one wants, people come back and look for far more additional staff to do the same work in a new building. That has its own difficulties and delays. It has delayed and continues to delay a number of projects. I have raised with the trade unions and others the matter of avoiding those problems. There is also the cost that accrues over a long period.

In all our acute hospitals there is a huge capital budget today as compared to five years ago and that budget is improving wards, outpatient facilities and accident and emergency units.

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