Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)

The Minister came to Limerick and we opened the 96 beds. I welcomed it. We now have options A, B and C, which we were looking for in Limerick for the care of the people of the mid-west. Developers have come to us saying that if the State does not have the money to build the facilities, they will build them for it and sell them back for €1 after 35 years. The reason I am saying this is that I hope our new Minister for Finance, who was in the position of the current Minister for Health and failed in it in areas where she is excelling, will not stop the funding for the delivery of healthcare. I hope a political situation does not develop in which the Minister for Finance sees the current Minister for Health as a threat to his leadership and also fails in this respect. We now have a chance to deliver infrastructure for the people of the mid-west and the rest of Ireland if the Minister for Health is allowed to put procedures in place whereby we can have buildings in which we can actually care for people. I do not want money to stand in the way. I want delivery on budget and on time, and I believe the Minister can deliver in this regard. I hope nothing stands in the way. If the budget does not allow for it, there are people who will develop the projects for the Minister and give her the infrastructure she needs to ensure the delivery of care for people in a short length of time.

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