Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has acknowledged the Dáil committee is engaged in its deliberations and will publish a detailed analysis of what type of health system we hope we can deliver in the years ahead. In the meantime, he has statistics and figures available to him in terms of demographics, the requirements and needs that will exist in the years ahead not only in the ageing profile, but in the chronic illness profile, and in the care areas of obesity, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and other areas, that require long-term planning to ensure we have the necessary professional competence. This is an issue that consistently causes the health service huge problems. For example, we are now trying to recruit nurses and attract those abroad to return home. We never seem to be able to plan so far ahead that we will know the number of graduates, and the numbers in the types of specialties and sub-specialties, that will be coming out of our colleges. Not knowing the budget on an multi-annual basis is a clear impediment to the hospital services, and the broader HSE services, in trying to deliver care.

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