Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

In regard to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's question, there are genuine capacity issues in Limerick and that is why we have sanctioned the new extension which will be operational at the start of 2012. That is needed not only for Limerick itself, but as part of broader reform in the mid-west region. Limerick has some of the most dynamic doctors in the country in the accident and emergency unit and other departments.

In regard to the teams that are going into hospitals, the view was that assistance needed to be given to some hospitals in respect of their operational issues, particularly in regard to accident and emergency services, but also in terms of their broader remit. The teams have already commenced work in Beaumont and Drogheda and, as far as I am aware, Limerick. I will provide the Deputy with the terms of reference; they are not rigid but rather involve the input of people with expertise and experience from this country and abroad who have undertaken this type of task before. It is not a big stick approach but rather a case of sitting down with the key stakeholders who run the hospitals to see how they can be operated differently with a view to improvements. Six hospitals have been identified, of which work has already commenced in three, with the next being Tallaght.

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