Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

As my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, will address the fair deal scheme, I will only make a brief comment on it. We were dealing with a large volume of applications which came in at the same time because the scheme was only introduced last October. In many cases, court and other legal procedures are involved because we have to deal with people who have diminished mental capacities.

We are receiving a fantastic response on the fair deal scheme. It has freed up 50 beds in Beaumont hospital alone and we are currently awaiting HIQA registration before allowing that hospital to open St. Joseph's, which will provide a further 100 beds. Beaumont has dealt with 1,000 more patients on a day case basis over the first four months of this year than it did during the same period last year. By moving to same day surgery and day case activity, more patients can be treated within available budgets.

Of course accident and emergency provision is not perfect but I can outline data that show year-on-year improvements in the waiting time target of six hours from time of arrival to either being sent home or admitted. Many hospitals meet that target but, unfortunately, approximately six hospitals are not in a position to do so for various reasons and these institutions are now receiving special attention from the HSE at my request.

See this speech in context