Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What is the view of the Taoiseach on recent reports that up to nine hospitals have suffered outbreaks of the lethal superbug, carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae, CPE? An unspecified number of deaths have resulted and Tallaght hospital was particularly affected, with wards closed and 700 operations cancelled. The increase in superbugs in hospitals is the result of too few staff, overcrowding and the especially high number of patients on trolleys. In Tallaght, much of the blame is being laid at the door of financial cuts to the cleaning budget. Clearly, short-sighted cuts to hospital budgets and an inadequate response by Government to overcrowding in our emergency departments have created a worsening crisis. Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for Health and his Department to provide an urgent report on this situation and to publish an emergency action plan to tackle this crisis?

The Health Service Executive was €31.5 million over budget in the first three months of this year. At the same time, there are continually high numbers of citizens waiting on appointments and on trolleys. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, last month there were new record levels of overcrowding in our emergency departments when compared with previous years. There were 8,154 admitted patients on trolleys during that period. It is clear that our service is in crisis and remains too small and unable to cope with the demands placed on it. Is the Taoiseach of the view that the HSE can deliver its planned services for the remainder of the year and remain within the €14 billion allocated by Government?

See this speech in context