Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

There is a need for an emergency system to cater for the needs of persons who, literally out of nowhere, have medical demands placed upon them. Surely it is not beyond our abilities to create such a system.

The amendment which recognises that there are problems raises a white flag in respect of community nursing homes. Instead of raising the white flag and announcing the closure of 800 beds across the country, including almost 60 in my home county, we should be championing these nursing homes, as we want to keep people in their local communities. We all agree that it is better for them to remain there because they can be near to their families, friends and the facilities with which they are familiar and this leads to their having healthier lives. Instead, we have been presented with a policy of centralisation in larger units in which those to whom I refer will not be given the care and attention they currently receive.

Surely it should be within the capabilities of the Government and the Oireachtas to consider how we can promote and champion community nursing homes. When I first became a Member of the House in 2007, there was a huge demand for such nursing homes, but that is no longer the case. However, we and the HSE - whatever is left of it - need to start promoting community nursing homes as being open for business. We are expecting the entire civil and public service to state they are open for business and that they want to provide services. The staff at facilities such as St. Augustine's in Ballina want to say they are open for business. However, some of the best have been closed. These beds could be reopened and paid for if people were given the opportunity to actually occupy them.

The issue of children on trolleys was raised during Leaders' Questions this morning. The figures provided by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, IMNO, by means of its trolley watch facility - this is now recognised as the Government standard - are beginning to creep upwards again. Surely, none of us would attempt to stand over the placing of children on trolleys. In fairness, the Minister is a GP and is aware of the position. He is in Cavan this evening and I hope he will have the opportunity to visit Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin in order that he might see the children waiting on trolleys. Last week I dealt with a case in which a one year old child who required emergency surgery was kept in Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, for three days until a bed became available in Temple Street Children's Hospital. We cannot stand over what happened in this instance. This is a management issue, it does not relate to resources.

I arrived in the Chamber when Deputy Mulherin was making her concluding remarks. She stated she was sick of attending public meetings at which people spoke out of both sides of their mouths. These comments were directed at me. I do not speak out of both sides of my mouth. At the meeting in question I asked why 12 beds at Ballina Hospital were being closed when HSE West had not collected €65 million from private health insurance companies. I was not speaking out of both sides of my mouth; I was merely asking a question. Only €500,000 would be required to keep the beds to which I refer open and some €65 million remains uncollected from private health insurance companies. This amount could be used to fund a great deal of work in the HSE West region.

I applaud the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on securing €35 million in funding and some 400 posts. However, I have to ask why are psychiatric beds being closed in County Mayo and other parts of the country. It has been stated there is no one available to fill particular jobs, but we are going to fill 400 positions later in the year. Why is it not possible to fill these positions now? Why not spend the €35 million to which I refer and retain the services already in place, rather than taking action later in the year? I would almost bet money we will have an underspend of mental health funding this year because we will take so long to spend it. This is another question I asked and I do not think I was speaking from any side of my mouth when I did so. It was a straight question. I hope we will get straight answers to the parliamentary questions we have tabled.

The Minister, Deputy Reilly, played the ball and the man very hard. This is not my style. We want answers. He took direct personal control. He made a big deal of the fact that he is in charge and that independent directors are gone. He stated he would be in charge and he would take the hits. It is almost a year later and I am willing to give him time, but the omens are not good when we see what is happening.

Deputy Mulherin was ranting and raving about the following point. The Government has had a year to prepare for exits and retirements because it was known they would happen. Any business, organisation or voluntary organisation would conduct scenario planning. Why was it not done in the course of the past 12 months to account for those leaving?

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