Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I am trying to get a sense of the timeline. Is the Department working to a timeline for the final process and publishing the final review in terms of the major projects identified, specifically with regard to health? The HSE stated in response to parliamentary questions that the capital cost of a hospital bed is approximately €1 million. The Minister, Deputy Harris, has mentioned looking for 500 extra beds in the system this year. Has he engaged with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on this specific figure? It has been reported that the capacity review suggests we will need an extra 2,500 hospital beds in the system, which would have a capital cost of approximately €2.5 billion. The Minister has said there is €4.3 billion. I presume it will not all go to health but a great majority of it will do so. I am trying to get a sense of it. In response to the emergency department crisis, the Minister for Health made a number of statements and commitments. What backup and work has he done with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department to back up these statements?

See this speech in context