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

As far back as July, the Minister was alerted by officials in the Department to 650 delayed discharges. This was six months before Christmas. In October the Taoiseach was warned in the House about the fair deal scheme. Despite all the rhetoric and language, how can the Taoiseach possibly state he can deal with this when he has funded 1,400 fewer beds under the fair deal scheme for 2015 than he did in 2013? Year after year the Taoiseach has taken beds which had been available for discharge and has expected the system to cope. It could not possibly cope and the Taoiseach knew this. He and the Minister were warned. In late December the Minister set up an accident and emergency forum, but he stated he knew this was coming. He stated he put in plans to try to deal with it. When he came back from holidays he stated he did not know why the plans did not work. God help Joe Citizen who contacts finegael.ieto try to find out, if the Minister himself does not know how the plan did not work.

Does the Taoiseach believe the accident and emergency departments were safe for patients at the level of overcrowding which was experienced in recent weeks and which continues to be experienced? Will he reverse the cuts to the fair deal scheme and provide adequate financial resources to ensure we do not have waiting times for access and eligibility to the scheme? With regard to the nursing home beds which are available to be commissioned, will the Taoiseach commit to providing the financial resources so they can all be commissioned and opened and front-line staff recruited to provide for same?

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