Two weeks ago, when the Taoiseach was absent from the House, I raised the issue of the south-east palliative care centre. The matter was addressed by the Minister for Health, who promised to meet a delegation of local Members. So far, he has not done so despite several requests from those Members. This centre cost in question more than €30 million to build. Capital funding was allocated. It involves 72 acute beds in one part of the building but the bottom two floors provide, for the first time, a palliative care service for the people of the south east. Two weeks ago, local Oireachtas Members, including the Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Education, Deputy Halligan, and Senator Paudie Coffey, were given a tour of the centre. It is a fantastic facility that is equipped and ready to be opened but it has no staff. To date, funding has not been provided to open the facility. Will the Taoiseach indicate when that will happen? The people of the south east are scandalised that this unit has been built and yet cannot be opened because there is no funding available for staff.

I thank Deputy Cullinane for the query. As he is aware, the cost to build the facility was €31.6 million and the annual running cost is €5 million. We will consider whether it is possible to include the centre in the upcoming Estimates. The HSE has provided €300,000 this year to try to prepare the building to be opened. The Minister for Health will meet Deputy Cullinane and others from the south east on Thursday and is prepared to discuss the matter further with them. It is an initiative that will be considered when the Estimates are being prepared.