Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

What I saw in Bantry was two endoscopy units, only one of which is being used half of the week. The other suite is not used at all. There is an ask and a need in Cork University Hospital for, essentially, a doubling of the endoscopy suites there, which is also important. However, there is infrastructure that has been open in Bantry since February, which was more than available to be used by anybody who wanted to do a scope, but it is in Bantry, and it is delivering care close to home. There is a very considerable waiting list for people who need endoscopy procedures in Cork.

What I also see in the south west and, of course, nationally, is theatre utilisation rate of 66%. What I also see is where people are making changes. They are doing outpatient clinics, which is completely possible, in Limerick in primary care centres. They are doubling up. They are doing three outpatient clinics per day instead of two. There are facilities for dermatology in the evening. People complain that they do not have room or that they do not have an assistant. I do not accept the idea that a well-educated, well-trained medical consultant in Ireland cannot deliver a clinic for the want of a room, when I see rooms empty through hospitals and primary care centres at all different times of the day and evening. I just do not accept it-----