asked the Minister for Health the extra funds being made available to the Southern Health Board to provide cardio-thoracic services at the Cork Regional Hospital.

I have accepted that cardiac surgery should be established in Cork Regional Hospital as soon as possible in the current year and I am committed to providing the funding for this service. My Department are at present in discussion with the Southern Health Board with a view to establishing in detail the facilities required and level of resource necessary to enable this service to commence as soon as possible.

Does the Minister mean that he will provide a special grant or finance for these services beyond what the Southern Health Board receive?

I can assure the Deputy that the requisite finance both on the capital side — and in this instance there is intensive capital expenditure required — and the estimated staff costs are provided for this year. I expect that the consultant who was appointed by the Southern Health Board as a cardiac-thoracic surgeon will return permanently to Cork — he is currently on sabbatical — on 1 July 1985 and will then commence practice. It will take some time before that service gets fully off the ground but it is well under way. We did receive an injection of capital funds on a private basis as well towards the centre.

9.