Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Following in the same vein, does the Minister not understand and accept that there is mighty concern given the fact that the budgetary allocation for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street have been cut significantly in the current year while other hospitals have secured deserved increases? This has occurred against the backdrop of coalface service providers in both hospital sites indicating that they have insufficient resources to maintain and sustain current levels of care provision. It is not about capital allocation but current need. The fact that both of these budgets have been cut is sending out a negative signal.

In a reply to a previous parliamentary question in December on board membership, we identified 64 vacant positions on boards under the Minister's specific aegis. What is the current situation in all of the various bodies? I understand that as of today, there are still four vacancies on the HIQA board. This is incredible after all this time and despite all the attention paid to the large number of vacancies across a plethora of boards that come under the Department's remit.

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