Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)

I commend the Minister of State on the fantastic work she is doing in the areas of disability and mental health. She is dealing with serious issues under difficult circumstances. To return to the issue under discussion, the manner in which the moratorium is being operated must be examined. The argument is that the moratorium will provide savings. However, as front-line staff are being replaced with agency workers and through overtime, I do not believe it provides savings to the Exchequer. Therefore, a pragmatic approach should be taken, particularly in respect of front-line services such as health, whereby front-line staff who need to be replaced should be replaced in the conventional way.

In addition, while I agree beds constitute just one aspect of the delivery of quality health care, it is an important aspect. In the health sector, both patient care and value for money are crucial but ensuring an adequate throughput of patients requires staff and requires beds to be open and operational, particularly in winter. Consequently, I ask that funding to ensure the operation of Connolly Hospital at an appropriate and high quality level be assured over the winter and that the accident and emergency unit, which serves 330,000 people, will be secured. I thank the Minister of State for her response.

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