James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The appropriate place, with 300 people lying on trolleys every single day, is not very satisfactory. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd is from the Louth constituency, in which a new accident and emergency department which is lying idle was built in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. When will it open? Why has the reduction in services not been outlined? They were not mentioned in the HSE national service plan. We knew the working time directive would be introduced and there would be a shortage of non-consultant hospital doctors. Why has this not been highlighted?

I understand there will now be integrated service areas, rather than what we have had to date, such as the HSE south. There is now talk of having 18 service areas with populations of 225,000 to 250,000. One such area might affect the constituency of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Wexford. Others might affect Waterford, Kilkenny, Clonmel, south Tipperary and Carlow. Could the Minister inform the House whether she is in favour of the new initiative? If so, how many will there be and when will they come into being?

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