Heart disease remains the single biggest killer in Ireland and it is an everyday reality for thousands of people and their families. In July 1999, my predecessor in the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Cowen, launched a cardiovascular strategy, Building Healthier Hearts, to address this important cause of sickness and death. Funding has provided for the appointment of almost 800 additional staff to support the strategy's implementation, including funding for 17 additional consultant cardiology posts. We have 109 extra cardiac rehabilitation staff in place which means most acute hospitals treating people with heart disease have a structured cardiac rehabilitation service. These are facilities that did not exist a few years ago.