Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Chambers is going to take three minutes.

There is a problem with hospital waiting lists as well. Between January and September 2015, a total of 854 operations were cancelled at Beaumont Hospital. Outpatient waiting lists at Beaumont Hospital have dramatically increased by over 570% since July 2014. Since the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, took over the health portfolio there has been an astonishing 579.5% increase in the number of people on outpatient waiting lists for more than 12 months at Beaumont Hospital. From January until September 2015, a total of 854 operations were cancelled in Beaumont. Given the proposed cut in hospital funding of €100 million, the signals are that 2016 is going to be a difficult year for Beaumont Hospital.

I appeal to the Minister and to his incoming successor. The capital project for Beaumont Hospital is vital. The emergency department is in crisis and needs physical investment. I hope to be able to press the matter with the incoming government with all the effort that I can manage.

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