Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted that two Opposition Members are being positive this morning, one about the report of the ESRI and the other about the JobPath programme. The prediction that there would be an inflow into the country resulting in 1 million more people is welcome. It is due to positive economic development by the Government in the past six years. I am delighted that Senator Catherine Ardagh is being positive this morning. However, we face major challenges, particularly in the health service. The good news is that three hospitals are being built, but now we must move the emphasis to areas outside Dublin and, in particular, the Munster region. In the past few there there has been an increase of over 250,000 in the population of Munster where a centre of excellence is required to serve Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Kerry and Clare, even though there would be a natural flow from Clare towards Galway. A centre of excellence in the provision of health care in Munster should be part of the overall plan. There are two voluntary hospitals in Cork, but they do not have sufficient space to deal with current numbers. As there has been an increase of 130,000 in the population of Cork, we must work on developing and fast-tracking that development which should be part of the national development plan. Will the Leader bring this matter to the attention of his Cabinet colleagues? In particular, will he invite the Minister for Health to come to the House to set out the programme for the development of hospital facilities in the next ten to 15 years? The last new hospital in the country was opened in 1998. I am delighted that three new hospitals are being built.

I wish to respond to my colleague on the JobPath programme. We have experienced the biggest decrease in the level of long-term unemployment in the past 12 to 18 months; therefore, something must be working. Furthermore, there are more than 230,000 additional people at work. I do not consider it to be a valid criticism of a scheme that was established to ensure people would be given the opportunity to return to education or find a job. That is the positive outcome of the JobPath programme.