Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government and I want to proceed with the technological university programme as quickly as possible. Quite a few of the delays to date have not originated at central government level but rather, as the Deputy will appreciate, while getting local entities and the various stakeholders, including the institutions, ready or persuaded to do it. The south east is one such area. This is why there are repeated references to it. It has been on the agenda for quite some time. There is a commitment to progress this project and to get it over the line. The merger in Munster between the institutes in Tralee and Cork has effectively occurred. The Dublin merger happened first. Time is ticking. Once a programme is decided upon, as this one was a number of years ago, it should be followed through.

I will talk to the Minister for Health in respect of the Sligo hospital. The Minister and I met HSE representatives last week with regard to the winter initiative and the need to prepare and plan properly for this winter, more so than any other, because we will be living with Covid-19, which will place an extra strain on our healthcare facilities and hospitals as we approach a new flu season. I am particularly worried about that. Any extra capacity that can be brought into the system should be brought in as quickly as possible.

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