Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I read a report in The Irish Times last week that the Minister for Health and Children will decide on capital projects for hospitals. That took me and others by surprise and one wonders why the Health Service Executive was established because it was meant to decide the hospitals that were allocated funding.

The purpose of raising this matter on the Adjournment is simple. I want to remind the Minister of State that people in Carlow and Kilkenny need hospital facilities. I hope the Minister of State can guarantee that Carlow and Kilkenny will get their fair share of funding under the capital programme which will cover St. Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny, the district hospital in Carlow, the Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow, St. Columba's Hospital in Kilkenny and numerous other hospitals, including Aut Even Hospital. I hope this will not become a political slush fund to be abused by politicians because it is far too serious a matter.