David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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In my constituency, in respect of University Hospital Waterford, I have received dozens of representations from patients over the last months in relation to hips, cataracts and hernia procedures. I have spoken to the hospital manager and he says there is a problem and that they are not getting through these procedures as quickly as they should. I am hoping the surgical hub will help in some of these procedures. I dealt with one elderly man who needs both eyes done. He probably will have to go to Belfast to get it done quicker. Day case procedures like that really should be done much more rapidly. This reinforces the need for the elective hospitals. Those types of procedure are really serious for the persons affected and they have an impact on their health. They may not be the most serious cases - obviously cancer and cardiac are very serious cases - but if someone is years waiting for a hernia operation or for cataracts to be done and they cannot see, it has an impact on their quality of life. Will the Minister to respond to that?

My second question is about workforce planning and plans in the South East Technological University. I know there is a crossover here between the Minister for Health and the Minister for higher education. On what is called the new glass site in Waterford, there are very exciting plans for a new pharmaceutical and veterinary building, which I support, and a new 10,000 sq. m One Health building. I also spoke to people in University Hospital Waterford, including senior management, who want to see a new medical school housed on that site as well. That would be a game-changer. As the Minister knows, workforce planning is really important and we need more training capacity. Is that something the Minister for Health could look at, and could she support the local stakeholders such as the professor in the university, the manager in the local hospital and others who are trying to get that project up and running?