Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this debate. Like Deputy Calleary, I have lost count of the number of times that we have raised the issue of the challenges facing the HSE. I am disappointed that the Fine Gael commentator for the HSE is leaving the Chamber.

Yesterday, there was a vote of confidence in the Government and Ministers and Government Deputies fell over themselves coming forward to discuss a recovery. It is good that we acknowledge the economic recovery of recent years, but it was primarily built on four years of regressive policies that, in true Fine Gael style, favoured the minority while the majority suffered. It is not just me saying this. The ESRI confirmed that we have had four years of regressive budgets. Even last year's budget, in which the Government gave some money back to people, saw someone on €70,000 per year benefiting four times more than someone on the minimum wage. The Taoiseach stated that he had received telephone calls at the time from constituents who were happy with his stewardship and the budget. His claims about those calls are as believable as his claim that it was not his intention to sack the former Garda Commissioner.

Tonight, we are focusing on the HSE. It is a sad state of affairs that, despite the recovery, our health services remain in crisis. Consider the latest figures. The Minister's objective is to play down people's expectations and, consequently, for the situation to appear progressive if that level is somehow exceeded. He abandoned his predecessor's targets and moved the goal posts. Despite that, the Government has been unable to meet its targets.

Deputies have stated that people must take responsibility for their actions. The Government has been in office for four and a half years. It is about time that it started taking responsibility for its actions and policy decisions. Between August 2014 and August 2015, there was a 59.5% increase in the number of outpatients waiting 12 months, a 162.3% increase in the number of inpatient day cases waiting nine months and a 430% increase in the number of inpatient day cases waiting 12 months. On top of these figures, the level of overcrowding in accident and emergency departments increased by 40%. As my colleague stated a few moments ago, behind all of these statistics are real human beings. They are our families, our friends and our constituents. They are suffering as a direct consequence of the policy and budgetary decisions taken by the Government. Given the fact that the accident and emergency service patient figures increased in a summer month, it is frightening to think what it might be like during the winter months. Summer is not the season for flus, colds and additional requirements placed on accident and emergency services.

Many challenges face my constituents. They do not benefit from the health service when they need it. No orthodontist has been recruited to the Longford-Westmeath area since a vacancy arose in 2013. Instead, the area has been amalgamated with Laois-Offaly. A parent approached me to tell of how an 18 year old daughter had been awaiting an appointment since she was 11 years of age. What does this say about the level of care in the HSE? Westmeath has only five respite care beds. Two of them are in the southern part of the county. Such beds are predominantly used to give the families of people with high levels of medical need a break. What break was given to Westmeath in the past two weeks? The two respite care beds in the southern part of the county in St. Vincent's hospital were closed. There was a waiting list when there were five beds. What will it be like with just three? Do Government Deputies believe that is progress or fair? I do not. The reform agenda is closing beds.

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