Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The health committee met at least every month. It met on 19 January, 23 February, 30 March, 27 April and 25 May. While they were Cabinet sub-committee meetings, we seem to speak about every matter under the sun that is relevant to the general area of health. Those Cabinet sub-committee meetings receive reports from the HSE and the Department of Health, and recommendations are made where they are necessary for decisions to be taken by the Cabinet.

Responsibility for the Department of Health and the HSE is divided between the Minister for Health and the Ministers of State at the Department of Health. We examined issues pertaining to the budget last year. There are now 900 more staff in the health service compared to this time last year. An additional allocation of €500 million was provided to the Department of Health for this year. The budget of €993 million for the fair deal scheme is an increase of more than €50 million on the 2014 budget and it provides for more than 22,000 people on the scheme who contribute a further €290 million towards the cost of their care. No plans are in place to make changes in that regard. Between now and 2024 the number of people aged over 65 years is projected to increase by 200,000. This is a serious issue which has to be taken into account and on that basis the Government provided an increased allocation this year. I understand that the waiting period has decreased from 18 weeks to four weeks. I am not sure of the nursing home to which Deputy Martin was referring.

The HSE has carried out a staff morale survey for the first time and it is developing a people and manpower strategy on foot of that survey.

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