Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I am glad to speak on this motion. I would like to deal with local issues in Limerick. It is a fair comment to say that the previous Government threw money at the health service, but there was a lack of coherent strategy on how that money could be used effectively. Times are tough, money is tight and people are finding it very difficult at the moment, but the Minister is trying to bring in a new way of doing things. We have had reconfiguration in the mid-west region. There is a review under way on funding to the region.

Last Saturday the Minister visited the accident and emergency department at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for the second time in eight weeks. The current facility at the hospital is not adequate to meet existing needs and priority is being given to putting a new one in place. A new primary care centre is due to open shortly at King's Island on the north side of Limerick city, which is a welcome development. The HSE has put in place proper plans to ensure - despite the departure of nursing staff before the end of this month - that an excellent service will continue to be provided at the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

The Minister is trying to do things in a new way and operating within the constraints created by a lack of funding. However, it is not always about spending; there is also a need to do things in the right way.

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