Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to raise two issues. I welcome the Croí Cónaithe announcement. Many people in Limerick city have contacted me about derelict houses and properties that they were purchasing. It is great to see that they are now able to avail of the Croí Cónaithe scheme to bring those houses back into use. A derelict house can be a blight. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on their work on this issue. I listened to people who raised the issue here.

I congratulate John Kiely, manager of the Limerick hurling team. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick yesterday. It is for his contribution to Limerick and society as a whole. I congratulate Dr. John Kiely.

It was reported in the Limerick Postthat there were 70 people on the waiting list in University Hospital Limerick, waiting for beds and to be seen. Some 72 non-consultant doctors signed protected disclosures and a letter to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, about their concerns about the fact that people were being left for ten hours or more without being seen, especially people in the acute medical ward. While I know that staff work hard to look after patients, it is unacceptable for people to be left. It is a serious issue when 72 doctors have signed this disclosure and letter. I call for a debate on the future of University Hospital Limerick.