Mr. Liam Woods:

On the point about the use of facilities at the weekend out of hours, we are funding the use of theatres and diagnostic equipment over the weekend on sites through both direct HSE funding and NTPF funding. On the Deputy’s point, there is no financial issue for us at the moment in seeking increased access for patients; the challenge is a capacity one. Therefore, we are investing in all the capacity we can, including through using our own spaces as best we can over weekends and evenings. That is being funded additionally through NTPF funding and direct HSE funding under our access-to-care plan to the extent that this can be done.

The importance of the pathways is that effectively implementing those that Dr. Henry referred to redirect the flow to some extent and brings people to the most appropriate place more quickly. However, we are using our facilities out of hours and will do as much of that as we can this year, because the key challenge is capacity.