Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

These include the issuing of GP visiting cards to people with long-term illnesses. This is another step on the planned and monitored march towards free GP care for all, and ultimately the Government's stated objective of universal health insurance.

While the Opposition will understandably focus on some perceived and indeed real reductions in services caused by the Government's obligation and requirement to move Ireland back to solvency and independence, it is also important to acknowledge areas of reform and improvement. These include proposals to protect the viability of community and nursing units and to increase the capacity of immediate care for elderly people. An additional €35 million will be allocated to child and adolescent services, which also confirms the Government's commitment to young people in our country. They are our most valuable resource and for the first time they have a voice at Cabinet through our excellent Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald. Other targeted areas are included, such as a tailored approach to disability, the commencement of colorectal screening, priority funding for the HPV and MMR vaccines and the progression of clinical care programmes such as the national disease management programme for diabetes.

It is important to correct some of the allegations made today by the Sinn Féin spokesperson, because the Minister has always made it clear that long-term care in the public sector will continue to be protected. It is reasonable to ask why this form of care costs 50% more in the public sector than in the private sector. I am pleased the Minister is addressing this issue.

The House is today discussing the reform agenda. Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a national forum of key stakeholders in the health service at which the Minister identified four key reform priorities for 2012. These are to deliver on the special delivery unit's agenda, further overhaul the health system's governance, change the model of care and reform the health insurance sector. Targets and monitoring were the main purpose of last week's gathering of the people running the health system. The special delivery unit has already had a significant impact on hospital performance and is improving patient experiences in a tangible manner. Improvements in these areas are taking place for the first time in many years.

Several Deputies referred to people waiting on trolleys. The Government's view is that it is unacceptable for anyone to wait on a trolley. It is important, however, to refer to a bold statement made by the Minister last year when he set priorities for 2011 because it caused amusement and raised eyebrows at the time. The cumulative number of patients waiting on trolleys in the first two to three weeks of this year was 27% lower than in the same period last year. While the number of people waiting on trolleys remains too high, last month was the first time such a significant reduction was recorded.

On waiting lists for scheduled care, last year the Minister directed that all public hospitals were to ensure they did not have any patients waiting for more than 12 months by the end of 2011. With the exception of one or two hospitals in Galway, this target was achieved.

Last week, the Minister announced his targets and objectives for 2012. The maximum period anyone should wait for elective care has been reduced from 12 to nine months. Cumulative improvements and targets are being introduced which can and must be achieved. This will be all the more difficult given the economic climate and reductions in budgets. One of the new targets is that no one should wait on a trolley for an emergency bed for longer than nine hours.

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