Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been an increase and I will provide a specific note to the Deputy in relation to how the additional €3.6 million has been spent.

Something different is being tried in terms of this year's winter initiative and it is time that is done. A bottom-up approach is being taken. There have been too many winter initiatives, possibly including what I implemented last year, where Dublin has been central to decisions on what will be done for the winter and all other areas had to get on board with that and the message was passed down to local hospitals. As the Deputy eloquently pointed out, there are different challenges in different hospitals so this year every hospital in the hospital group structure has been asked what would be of most help to them if additional resources were to be made available. Interestingly, very different replies were received. Some requested extra discharge co-ordinators because the hospitals do not have the capacity to discharge enough patients, in particular over weekends. Others have raised issues such as longer opening hours for in-hospital diagnostic services. One requested an additional porter to help people get to and from diagnostic services more quickly in order to facilitate a quicker patient turnaround. The issues of additional beds and home care packages are being considered. We will be unveiling the measures shortly. Some of the winter initiative funding from last year has gone into the HSE budget for this year. I am also in discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, on several matters in the context of the budget.

I am constrained in what I can say in relation to the issue in Ennis.