Mr. Jim Breslin:

The challenge is to get a better interaction and better working processes between our acute hospitals and our community organisations. Currently, we have very stretched acute hospitals, emergency departments and waiting lists, and the community services are also stretched. The Sláintecare process and the strategy and vision it sets out is to have much more integrated care, so it reduces pressure on the acute side and increases capacity on the community side. One challenge that I have set out with the team is to hold our budget for this year; aim to use the better funds we have more wisely; examine any activities or services that do not add value to the front line and stop them and ensure that the money is going to the front line where we need it while separately working with our colleagues in the Department and the Government; and laying out the requirement for investment, which Sláintecare sets out, but with a new and different way of delivering services.