Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

When it comes to Sláintecare implementation, we share the eagerness of the committee for acceleration in progress. There already is very substantial progress to be seen in its implementation. Members are fairly up to date on the progress on the health regions and the new organisational integrated management structures, which will provide greater transparency, a clear line of accountability in the system and allow us to employ the benefits of population-based approaches to health planning and performance appraisal. One of the topics selected for us to focus on today by the committee is the consultant contract. That is an area in which very substantial progress has been made, with significant numbers of consultants, as reported in the opening statements, switching over to the new contract. That will be an enabler of substantial change and a much strengthened public system.

The Minister and the Government have prioritised, consistent with Sláintecare, reducing costs, including the lowering of payments under the monthly drug payment scheme, abolition of public inpatient charges and an expansion of medical card eligibility by bringing the threshold up to the median income for households and extending provision for children. These are very significant developments. Recruitment is at record levels, not just in hospitals but, consistent with Sláintecare, in community infrastructure as well. There are enhanced community care teams. The 96 community care networks provide alternative services and teams to which GPs can make referrals, other than to emergency departments, GP access to diagnostics and many other developments. There is a lot of our work still to do but there is very substantial progress. This is a period of big investment in health and significant expansion of services. That is consistent with rising demands, as Deputies are well aware.