John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If we do not put in place the required resources in terms of staff and infrastructure, those who should be responsible for dealing with the issues will blame a lack of resources. We must certainly examine why some hospitals perform much better than others with the same resources. The second and key solution to the matter is accountability. It is always somebody else's fault. As politicians we blame the Minister, the HSE blames a lack of resources, commitments will be given, targets will be set and yet nobody is held to account when the targets are not met. Next week there will be another "RTE Investigates" issue, with another emergency debate and shifting of resources. Around we go in circles. Until we get to the stage where the people responsible for delivering services are held to account, we are at nothing.

The Minister knows I sit on the committee examining the future of health care and we are doing much good work. If we are to solve the problem, we must start at the bottom rung of the ladder, which is primary health care. If we do not invest in primary health care, we will not keep those who do not need to be in hospital out of hospital. We must treat as many people as possible in the community as that will automatically free resources in the hospital services. It is quite simple if we think about it and we invest in it. As was alluded to earlier by many speakers, the treatment purchase fund is being reinstated but the Minister should seek further funding for it in order to deal immediately with the 500,000 people and get the waiting list down to a manageable level. The Minister would have the full support of this House in seeking to at least double that fund this year.

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