Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Emergency department overcrowding remains a serious challenge. We were told earlier on this year that the provision of additional funding for the fair deal scheme would help to bring down waiting times under that scheme from 15 weeks to a more normal level and that this would end this particular problem. That funding was provided. It is now four weeks on and it did not deal with the problem as envisaged.

An extra €117 million has been allocated this year to free up hospital beds, to create additional beds and to hire more staff. I did not hear the hospital manager, or the bed manager, from Tallaght hospital speak on this particular incident. I do not have all of the details, other than the letter Deputy Martin has referred to from the consultant, with whose view I agree.

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