James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Tomorrow's plans are no substitute for today's action. The reality is that our hospitals are chock-a-block on the north side. We cannot get people in. Waiting times are getting longer and longer. Beds are available in the community today. All that is required is to put out a tender and ask the operators concerned to provide the beds so we can move people who are finished the acute stage of their treatment, and therefore do not want to be in hospital any more, out of the hospital and into long-term care if that is what is required. I am asking the Minister to do this. Another possibility is a specific tender with rehabilitation associated to allow patients to continue their recovery at home.

I am sorry for raising my voice, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but when one hears this stuff and there is a ready remedy there in front of us which is not being availed of, it makes one pull one's hair out, such as is left of it.

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