If he were to satisfy all those seeking money for health-related matters, Charlie McCreevy could easily allocate every penny to the health services.
The total health budget has doubled in the past five years and for the first time this year expenditure will exceed £3 billion on day-to-day health service spending. But it just doesn't seem to be enough.
One of the first cases that comes to mind this week is the public cancer patients at Cork University Hospital. The radiotherapy unit's linear accelerator, used to treat tumours, has just broken down again. Over 100 patients are in the distressing position of having to wait for treatment on the machine, which is obviously nearing the end of its natural life.
Even without breakdowns, many public patients attending this already overstretched unit have to wait up to four months before beginning treatment. A new machine would cost £500,000.
The hospital waiting lists also deserve attention, with almost 35,500 public patients waiting for treatment. The spend could take the form of increasing the number of acute beds in the hospital system or building step-down facilities for people who need care but not in acute hospitals.
A much publicised problem area is the need for places for people with mental handicap. The Government has faced unprecedented pressure to clear the waiting lists - 1,400 people urgently need a place to live and an additional 1,000 people need a suitable place to go each day. A £60 million investment is called for.
Finally, the State's eight health boards would hardly say no to some additional funding. As of last year any budget overrun is a "first-strike" on this year's allocation.
