Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Contrary to the Deputy's impression, there has been an significant reduction in the number of people working in management and administration since the HSE was established, and I can give him the data on that.

Crumlin hospital has had an increase of 18% in medical and dental staff and 29% in nursing staff. Extra people provide extra services, so when the Deputy says it goes on pay, that is true of 80% of the health budget. It goes on recruiting extra people or to pay increases to existing staff. There has been a substantial increase. The day before the decision was made that the location for the new children's hospital should be the Mater, it was clear that the three choices were the Mater, Beaumont or St. James's. There was no choice as regards a site on the Naas Road.

I recall talking to the current chairman of the medical board at Crumlin, and he was very excited. In fact, he was very complimentary to me, and then it all fell apart once the site was chosen. It is bigger than a site. It is about a service. I had a very good meeting recently with the chairman of the medical board and one of his colleagues at Crumlin with Professor Drumm and I very much welcome the fact that serious engagement is taking place. I salute that and welcome it. Long after all of us have gone - clinicians, Ministers or politicians - there will hopefully be a state-of-the-art facility for sick children.

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