Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for this opportunity to make a small contribution on the motion tabled by our health spokesman, Deputy Kelleher. The key message of this Private Members' Bill is to highlight the inefficiencies and inadequacies of the Government's proposals on health. It is important to note that there is a €500 million deficit in the Department's budget. What areas will be affected because of this shortfall? Will the deficit be reflected in losses in staff and services for the people of County Louth and others nationally?

I wish to address a number of issues. First, will the shortfall of €500 million affect current long-stay hospitals, including the Drogheda Cottage Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital in Ardee? These hospitals are on tenterhooks wondering what will happen to their long-stay patients. Not only are patients concerned, but the staff are worried about what will happen and what the hospitals' futures will be. The Minister is familiar with both hospitals.

In the budget, an additional €35 million was allocated for mental health services, of which €24 million was dedicated to community-based teams for adults and children. On 7 July, we were told:

It is understood discussions in recent days suggested parts of a €35 million investment in mental health services could be used to offset overruns in that area. This programme has been strongly championed by Labour Minister of State for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch.

Will the promised 414 staff be recruited? Will the funding for community-based services be ring-fenced as promised? Will this be another broken promise by the Government?

There is no national strategy on dementia care, but the programme for Government commits to putting such a strategy in place by 2013. Will this commitment be impacted because of a lack of available funds? An estimated 41,740 people suffer from dementia. Projections suggest that this number will rise with an ageing population, yet the Government has made no strategic proposals. This serious issue affects fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers across the country. Who will be the voice for these people? Government action is necessary now. This is just one of the areas that are at risk and for which the Government has no plan in place to alleviate people's suffering or to aid their families. Where is their care and support?

We as a party believe that there are a number of ways in which the Government can realistically save money so that finance can be spent on serious issues, including dementia care and intermediate care. For example, agency staff costs have almost doubled in four years and will be in excess of €200 million this year. High agency costs are partly driven by absenteeism, which was at 5% in the HSE in the first four months of 2012 compared with a private sector average of 2.5%. The total cost of taxis increased by almost 10% last year, increasing from €26 million in 2010 to €28 million in 2011. Medical legal payments and costs were up from €39 million in 2008 to a projected €127 million in 2012. Overtime was €170 million last year and €69 million in the first five months of this year. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, employs two special advisers, one of whom earns €92,000 per year. In addition, two special delivery unit advisers are each on three-year contracts worth a total of almost €1 million.

See this speech in context