Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In my time as Minister for Health, I had the opportunity to visit Portiuncula Hospital, which performs very well and sees relatively low numbers of patients on trolleys. The facilities at the hospital are very out of date, however. I would be very keen to see the new block under construction as soon as possible. I cannot give the Deputy a date on it. I am sure the Minister for Health, who is at a joint committee meeting at the moment, will give the Deputy an update as soon as he gets an opportunity to do so. I remind the Deputy that less than 20% of the €10 billion ten-year health envelope for new hospitals, primary care centres, IT equipment etc. will be spent on the children's hospital. More than 80% of it is available to be spent on other projects all over the country.

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