Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are always holding the fort and I have it for ten minutes now.

I thank the Minister of State for bringing the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to west Cork on Monday. I very much welcome the announcements made. I am keen to work with the Minister of State to ensure that what he said would happen will happen. I am keen to put that on the record.

The Minister of State started by saying that health funding remains a major challenge. I appreciate that but there seems to be a major lack of planning, especially with regard to winter cover - for want of a better term. It is obvious that things will happen in the winter and the winter is not only December or Christmas anymore. I find it difficult to get my head around why, year after year – this is my third winter as a Member of the Oireachtas – the Department does not seem to be able to get its act together. I say as much with respect. Will the Minister of State comment on that?

Anyone who is looking for more money needs to ensure we get value for that money. Delayed discharges are a major problem. There is nowhere for discharged patients to go and this needs to be addressed. There is a lack of step-down beds and home care packages. Delayed discharges are at the top of the cake. We need to dig into the matter a little more.

Acute hospitals have exceeded their approved funding level. Will the Minister of State expand on the reason this has happened?

I am keen for the Minister of State to comment on community services, especially in mental health. I am still waiting for an answer to a question about Bantry and the psychiatric unit there.