Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

In the context of the capital allocation, funding for the accident and emergency entrance has been recently approved. Some €400,000 will be spent in 2009 and the rest of that budget will continue into the calendar year and the financial year of 2010. The commitment is made in the context of the provision of the new front entrance.

A steering group has been established and is assessing the provision of health services across a full range. The Senator is right in saying that centres of excellence can exist in different faculties and for different treatments. For example, there could be centres of excellence in the context of cardiology that may not be the same as those being provided in the treatment of cancer services. We can agree that a centre of excellence does not necessarily cover all areas of medical procedure. We will await the outcome of the steering group which will assess the best treatments for patients, indicating where services may best be used efficiently and wisely to ensure there is an integrated approach so that wherever services are located, patients can have confidence in them.