Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Ten years ago action was promised and two years ago it was promised with immediate effect. This is a commentary on our public services. The Minister of State may smile all he likes but the fact remains that 300 people per day lie on hospital trolleys, wards are being closed in Tallaght and at James Connolly Hospital and services are being stripped away in Monaghan and Navan and not being replaced. I raised a question on Leopardstown Park Hospital only two or three weeks ago but the Taoiseach did not get back to me yet. Yesterday Deputy Shatter pointed out that respite care beds will be withdrawn from the hospital from May, June and July and this is another disgraceful situation. I was handed a letter from a school in Wicklow today.

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