Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Woods for his opening statement. I compliment all the people who work in hospitals, particularly the doctors, midwives and general staff who have aided the delivery of more than 67,000 babies. I echo Senator Burke's comments that when something goes wrong, staff should step up and be open about what has happened because it affects the family when the child who is born does not live.

I heard a discussion on the radio this morning about the report on maternity services in Cavan General Hospital. I was surprised to learn that one midwife looks after more than 37 patients. Is that the usual ratio? It is a substantial workload.

The employment of agency nurses is a real issue that must be dealt with immediately. From discussing the issues, people believe that agency nurses pick and chose what they will do. This is what gives rise to the inability to recruit staff to do certain jobs in hospitals. On the 2016 Estimates and the provision for additional midwifery staff, does the HSE have figures from the midwifery planning review of the number of staff required?

The integration of the Coombe hospital into the St. James' campus is to be supported. It is welcome that the new national children's hospital will be built on the campus and that funding will be allocated for the relocation of the Coombe hospital, as announced in the recent capital programme. As I live not far from the Coombe hospital, I notice the work of the staff and the conditions in which they have to work because that building is not world class.