Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Listening to RTE Radio's "Liveline" programme the other day was a harrowing experience for many people. The broadcast featured Louise Mac An tSaoi, the mother of Liam Mac An tSaoi, a young child who is spending his fourth Christmas in Crumlin Children's Hospital. This is as a result of the failure of the health authorities to provide the necessary supports and funding to enable Liam to go home to Galway this Christmas. This is despite being promised by the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, more than 18 months ago that Liam would be sent home and would have the resources to enable him to return to Galway. That promise was broken and the situation is causing enormous strain on the family. Louise gave an account of her own experiences and those of the family as a result of this significant failing. Liam was born prematurely, has had up to 15 operations and requires 24-hour care. Incredibly, despite the fact that the Minister, Deputy Reilly, has been aware of this for more than two years, the package has not been put in place to enable Liam to go home so that the family can spend Christmas together this year. I am highlighting this case because it illustrates the degree to which the health service is at breaking point in terms of providing basic and proper care packages for many sick children and adults.

This case is separate from that of the seven tracheostomy babies of whom we are also aware. They are fit to go home but cannot be discharged because of the lack of proper home-care packages being put in place. The Minister has been aware of this and yet it continues.

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