Mr. Robert Watt:

-----me, the Department, the Minister and the Government, collectively, along with Mr. Reid’s team, ensure we are getting value for money and we are getting impact for the spending. There are many different dimensions to the Deputy’s question. In very straightforward terms, the agenda is to deliver on Sláintecare and the reforms to ensure the increased capacity to deliver on extra activity in the hospital across all of the different areas of responsibility. It is also to ensure there is a shift to the left and, as Mr. Reid has mentioned, that more care is provided in the community and closer to people’s homes. It is to deliver on Sláintecare and the reforms, and to enhance the overall value for money, productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of the system. That is what our Department is doing in terms of working with Mr. Reid and his team in driving the reform agenda across the health system.

I agree with the Deputy that the health system is well funded and there are resources there. We need to ensure these resources deliver better for citizens. The Deputy mentioned the issue around emergency departments, as did the Chairman, and everybody acknowledges that is not acceptable. There are also issues around waiting lists that are too long and where people waiting too long for treatment.

Everybody shares the analysis and the answer is we are implementing Sláintecare and driving the reforms. Everybody supports those reforms and it is welcome we have a clear consensus on that. Our job is with the Minister, the Government and the various teams we have in the Department to deliver on that reform agenda.