Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for flagging it. As the Cathaoirleach said, it is a six marker. There is difficulty with the capital side of the budget, as the Senator will appreciate at this moment in time. It is one of the challenges. I am in a struggle in my area trying to secure funding for something that is very close to the Cathaoirleach's heart, which is Bantry General Hospital. I do not mean to take from the Senator's struggle to get funding for Beaumont Hospital. I appreciate it because I have a family member working there and understand the challenges faced by cystic fibrosis patients and their families, most importantly, and the staff working there. There are a number of national projects going on at the moment and that is the challenge we have in the health capital budget. We have the national children's hospital, the national maternity hospital and the national forensic hospital out in Portrane. As they are swallowing up hundreds of millions of euro, it is very difficult to get to all the capital projects. It is in the 2040 plan, as I have said. It has also been cleared by the HSE steering committee, which is an important step to get by. Hopefully increased funding will become available over the years. The model of care has almost been agreed for it. We are a long way towards it but I cannot give the Senator the answer she would like to hear.