Mr. Liam Woods:

In the University Limerick hospitals group there is a strong management focus on addressing the challenge. In fact, this is giving rise to the current investment with strong clinical input, as well as a general managerial input.

Deputy O'Donoghue asked whether the nature of management varies across the country. Of course at some level the answer is "Yes" but from our point of view there are certain key determinants. Let us consider the trend in Limerick over the period of Covid-19. Limerick was probably the only area in the country where there was little fall-off in attendance at the emergency department. This suggests a demand pattern, which Deputy O'Donoghue referred to earlier, in a way, that is putting the hospitals in the UL hospitals group under considerable strain. We have to continue to invest in and develop management throughout the country, but if one looks, one will find real demand and supply issues too. Sláintecare has been clear about that. It varies across the country.