Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I refer to the Cabinet sub-committee on health, which the Taoiseach chairs. Did it deal with the closure of wards in Crumlin children's hospital and the difficulties that has given rise to for children who have had operations postponed, including spinal surgery?

In reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin, the Taoiseach said while matters are under consideration, he cannot discuss them in the House until they are decided on and announced to the public. However, a decision announced to the public in 2005 by the Minister for Health and Children was her plan to fast-track the provision of hospital beds by means of the co-location of private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals. Has the sub-committee given consideration to how fast the fast-tracking has been over the four-year period since 2005? None of the co-located hospitals has materialised and not a single bed has been fast-tracked. Is consideration being given to examining a different fast track now for the provision of hospital beds, since the fast track chosen by the Minister clearly has run into something of a siding?

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