Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are 17 pages of laudable commitments in the programme for Government about improving the health service in general, including the mental health services, but none of them has been delivered on, unfortunately.

We found out through the media in recent days that the scoliosis targets will not be met. There are almost 700,000 people on inpatient or outpatient lists across the country. The community services, including the home help service, are in tatters. The health service is crumbling under ferocious pressure. In addition to all that pressure, no new staff are being recruited. The Minister told the health committee yesterday that the €100 million shortfall in the health service budget would have to be found within the health service. More than €100 million is needed to recruit extra staff. How can this be done without compromising the health service that is already in tatters?

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