Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's comments that there is progress on the case in identifying the site. It is heartening to see the business cases have been submitted to the Minister and that, as he said, they will undergo assessment with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is probably one of the few questions on which the three speakers from Cork North-Central will all agree. We want identification of the site as early as possible. We have all spoken in the House about our preference for it and its location.

I understand the Minister has to make a balanced decision about the best thing for patients, the public purse and whatever other criteria by which he will need to assess the overall decision. We are in a situation with waiting lists the way they are, and as Deputy Burke said, the waiting lists will not improve without the delivery of these hospitals throughout the country. I echo the frustration with the process up to now, but at the same time, I recognise the progress that has been made and that the Minister said those business cases are now in front of him. I ask him to expedite those appraisals as quickly as possible.

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