James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

A number of issues arise. Earlier, the Minister alluded to the fact there had been a huge improvement in respect of waiting times. The matter was raised with the Minister by my colleague, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

During the past 30 days there were, on average, 300 patients lying on trolleys in hospitals. On one day alone, there were 397 patients lying on trolleys in our hospitals. This does not compare well with the situation three or four years ago.

Accident and emergency departments are at crisis point. This issue is kernel to the problem. Some 57,000 bed days were lost last year at Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital. This is equivalent to the closure for one year of a 150 bed hospital. There was no place to which patients could be discharged to continue their recovery.

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