Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy. I accept the Government needs to make a timely decision on this and I accept it is an issue that has gone on for many years. In fairness to the Minister for Health, she is proactively engaging on this issue. The point the Deputy makes about population is really key. He is correct that the population of the mid-west region is growing faster than the population of many other regions, including other regions that have a greater hospital capacity. That is absolutely factually correct.

When one looks at the three options, I do not really think there are three. There is to do one obvious thing, which is to expand capacity and then there is a choice between two others. That is how I read it.

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