James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It has, on numerous occasions, not just the buildings mentioned but also primary care centres that might be suitable. However, I shall not go into detail here as it would not be appropriate.

The Senator also asked for outpatient figures. We are waiting for a tiny bit of work to be done on the figures which will be done during the course of the week and then I will provide him with the figures. We are the first Government to collate the figures which amounted to 386,000 outpatients. As I said at the time, it was not the figure that astounded me but the fact that many thousands of people had to wait longer than four years to see a consultant after a GP referral. We said that we would try to get everybody seen within a year by the end of this year. However, we only got the figures in March. We said that we may not reach the target but would get as close to it as we could. I am given to understand that the figures will be very positive news. I do not have the figure at present so it would be wrong for me to discuss the matter.

We have already mentioned medical cards. The Senator also sought the medical card figures for this year, last year and the year before. We can get such information and will give it to the committee clerk who will forward it to members. That is all the matters that I can cover and I shall now hand over to Mr. Tony O'Brien.