I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 to 328, inclusive, 416 and 437 together.
The Government is committed to supporting the establishment of a lung transplant facility in Ireland and to ensuring that the programme, when introduced, will be in a position to match the highest international standards in lung transplantation. The Mater Hospital, Dublin, has been designated as the surgical site for the programme. The provision of a lung transplant unit at the hospital forms part of a major capital development approved for the hospital. In order to advance this project an expert consultative group chaired by the Eastern Regional Health Authority was established to advise my Department on various issues associated with the development of the programme. The report of the consultative group has recently been received and is being considered by my Department. A meeting between officials from my Department, the ERHA and representatives of the consultative group has been arranged for later this month to discuss the matter.