Mr. Liam Doran:

In September 2006, a total of 3,724 people were admitted for hospital care, for whom no bed was available. In September 2016 that number had risen to 7,551. That requires immediate attention. That is not 50 beds for every hospital in the country. That is a targeted immediate capital investment programme in the nine most challenged hospitals. That must be an immediate measure, not just because we say it or it is politically expedient, but because patients need it.