Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to point out that even though there has been a significant increase in the number of those waiting more than eight months or a year, 89% of patients are waiting less than 12 months for access to outpatient treatment. The target is not being fully met but we have achieved a level of 89%.

There is obviously a deficit in the context of step-down facilities, nursing homes and home-care packages. We do not offer enough home care and people here go to nursing homes sooner than they should and sooner than do their counterparts in other countries which provide much better social and home care than Ireland. Whether the funding available will be adequate is a matter for discussion in the coming weeks. As matters stand, there are approximately 700 delayed discharges across the acute hospitals. There will always be some delayed discharges - perhaps 200 to 300 - but a figure of 700 is quite remarkable.

Were those patients in step-down facilities or nursing homes, we would not have the problems we have with overcrowding in emergency departments or delays in elective procedures. This is a major problem and it will cost a good deal of money to put right. I cannot say with any certainty whether that money will be available to me next year.

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