Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

He mentioned the same level of services when he wrote to every health board from 2001 until he left office. It is obvious reading the HSE report that it states the same. The HSE report was published in April 2005 and uses the same words on delivering the same level of service as was delivered in the previous year. The Estimates contain a 7% increase on the previous year's budget and issues will arise during the year that will reduce funding for other issues. The promises made in 2005 have not been delivered. Any delivery worth talking about on the ten-point plan has not been included. Only a handful of doctor-only medical cards have been issued and we have almost reached the end of 2005. The Tánaiste tried to blame the GPs for this. She was responsible for the 30,000 full medical cards that she could have delivered in 2005 and only 1,000 of those cards have been delivered.

We went through a charade last year, not just on the Estimates but also on the budget, about all the extra money to be invested in doctor-only medical cards, ten-point plans for accident and emergency units and other aspects of the health services. Much of this money was not spent during 2005, certainly not in the health service. This charade needs to stop and we must increase accountability and transparency of health spending. Money is not channelled to where it is supposed to be spent. I wish to have answers to the questions I raised.

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