Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

In response to Senator Coffey, funding has been approved for a 42-bed unit in Waterford. I am told it will be in place in 2009 but work will begin next year. The radiotherapy service for Waterford will be a satellite centre. We have provided money to roll out that on a traditional basis and as a public private partnership. We will have all the capacity required by 2010. Meanwhile we are procuring services from Whitfield for public patients.

I have no brief about the Oranmore clinic. I will have to check on whether it is planned to put a new primary care facility there but the private sector is building many of these facilities which the State rents. This is a speedy way of getting facilities in place and of releasing the capital for other projects. I do not know if such a facility is planned for Oranmore. I will respond to the Senator.