Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

They are not together at this point but are operating separately. The Minister spoke about the clinicians having to make the decision, which is a clinical one. The clinicians in Crumlin are in an impossible situation. They have 1,318 children on the waiting list. The figures quoted by Deputy Reilly are factual, namely, that between 2004 and 2008, despite most of the increase in budget having to go on pay-related issues, the hospital increased patient activity by 30% in day cases, 23% in outpatients and 34% in theatre procedures. They had to deal with matters such as the fact that the birth rate in Ireland is increasing. More children are presenting with serious illness and it is not their fault there is no funding stream for sickle cell disease or that much of the money that used to be allocated for treating children outside the country has dried up. Referrals to Crumlin from around the country are increasing. The demand on the hospital is growing.

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