Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Caoláin referred to the cuts to the budgets of the children's hospitals. Let us consider the budgets for all hospitals.

The Minister announced with great fanfare that they had been increased but when one factors in the budget deficits and overdraft facilities, very few hospitals received an increase for 2013.

With regard to the amalgamation of the three children's hospitals, there appears to be a view that we should start shrinking the budgets and extracting greater efficiencies while driving towards the national children's hospitals. In the meantime, however, children are being treated in three different hospitals and they deserve the best financial support we can provide. I hope there is no reluctance to embrace advances in medical technology and pediatric care because facilities may have to be moved to the national children's hospital at a later stage. These matters should not be long-fingered or delayed.

See this speech in context