Ms Mary Day:

I have been in University Hospital Limerick twice since I came into the role on September 1. I will ask my colleague Dr. O'Connor to talk about the intervention team. There is a lot of work going into University Hospital Limerick, including local work, to improve the problem.

There are a lot of hardworking staff in Limerick, as the Senator will be aware. We have an opportunity to give credit for the work. The intervention team's work is about improving flow, targeting the length of stay and improving the 24-hour delays.

In respect of bed capacity, in the past four weeks a sod has been turned on the second block of 96 beds. Some 95 beds were delivered in 2020 and the second block of 96 beds will be delivered in the next two years. It is positive to see that additional capacity.