Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I do not think the Taoiseach appreciates the number of people who are suffering in distress and being treated in very undignified circumstances and the number of staff working in impossible circumstances. No category of staff other than frontline nurses and doctors would give the type of commitment that is being given in the conditions in some of these hospitals.

The Taoiseach talks about initiatives. For example, the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, announced €170 million for the provision of 800 community beds in July 2002. However, not one of them was ever provided and the Irish Examiner, the Minister's local newspaper, confirms they are cancelled today. The Taoiseach has also spoken about the home care initiative. I will read the relevant paragraph from a reply to an applicant for the scheme:

I wish to inform you that the allocated funding for this scheme is now fully committed and no additional payments can be made at this time. Accordingly, you have now been placed on a waiting list for consideration.

This is typical of the answer applicants receive to inquiries about the so-called initiative announced by the Tánaiste.

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