David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

How can we only spend €130 million when it is €200 million and when we have a waiting list crisis, the Chair talking about the National Ambulance Service, we have people waiting far too long in hospitals, we have some patients waiting more than 24 hours, and we have all of the challenges and the pressures? The Minister announced, with great fanfare, €200 million of an access to care fund. It says here we will spend €6.9 million, which is what we are being asked to sign off on. We are actually being told it is €130 million. Does that mean the figure is coming from somewhere else? Why is it only €130 million? Why not the full €200 million? Maybe the Minister could answer that. How in God's name have we arrived at a situation where €200 million has been provided for an access to care fund at a time of considerable crisis in our healthcare system. It says here €6.9 million and we are being told it might be €130 million. What has gone wrong that we cannot spend the full €200 million?