Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is my final point, a Cheann Comhairle. In 2016 alone there has been a 4% increase in inpatient and day case activity over 2015. Last year, almost 1.69 million patients received inpatient or day case treatment in hospitals, which is an increase of almost 40,000 on the previous year. That demonstrates the urgency and priority attached to the issue, while admitting that the waiting lists are too long. Serious action is being taken to address those problems.

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