Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá dhá cheist agam, ceann amháin faoi sheirbhísí sláinte i gclár an Rialtais agus ceann eile faoi bhean óg darb ainm Grace. Grace, as the Taoiseach will recollect, was the young woman with intellectual disabilities who remained in a foster home at the centre of abuse allegations. We are waiting for terms of reference for the commission of investigation into this case. I am led to understand that the Cabinet was expected to get an update on this case two weeks ago from the Attorney General. Was that briefing provided? Is the Taoiseach now in a position to clarify when the terms of reference will be made public and when the commission of investigation will start its work? Can the Taoiseach say whether a separate case in which a young person with an intellectual disability was left in a foster home in the Cork-Kerry area will now be part of the commission of investigation?

A commitment in the programme for Government obliges the Government to commence a State-wide review of bed capacity and the length of time patients wait in emergency departments. In February, a HSE report revealed that 2,700 citizens aged over 75 years had spent more than 24 hours on trolleys, and yesterday there were 257 patients on trolleys. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in my constituency, had the highest number of patients on trolleys in the State. Today, nursing and midwifery staff in that hospital are undertaking a work to rule to protest at the vacant 104 whole time equivalent posts that urgently need to be filled. In response to another question, the Taoiseach denied that a moratorium was in place. He then went on to say that if the hospital has the resources it can recruit. If the Government does not give the hospital the resources then it cannot recruit. When will the hospital bed capacity review commence? When will it conclude? How does the Government expect to reach the target set in the programme for Government for a reduction in emergency department waiting times if it cannot fill the jobs that are vacant and is imposing a moratorium on new jobs? There are 104 vacant posts in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

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