Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

Obviously, €480 million is a significant shortfall to have to make up. We met the Minister for Health and Children recently and it is evident that things have changed rapidly in the meantime. She indicated in regard to funding that she is ruling nothing in or out tomorrow morning and for the budget. Does that mean the promises made at the meeting attended by the mayor of Clare and councillors have gone out the window and that there are changes to what the Minister outlined? She indicated to me that there are no plans to close the hospital or acute hospitals but at the same time she said the situation regarding funding will be kept under review. There is much uncertainty currently. People are fearful about what will happen.

The Minister indicated she would implement the Teamwork report. Given the serious funding problem, what will happen to the required upgrading of the ambulance service and to the funding required to upgrade Limerick Regional Hospital? Will the Minister put the Teamwork report on hold? That issue is also very important.

Deputy Dooley inquired whether Fine Gael Members would resign if we were in the same circumstances. I remind him that not one cent has been spent on Ennis General Hospital in recent years. We have received promises from Minister after Minister and we still do not know what will happen to the hospital. Perhaps we can get some answers from the Minister for Health and Children in that regard.

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