Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy must realise that every year we are increasing the number of patients treated. As I said, in the past four years 250,000 extra people have been treated, which represents an increase of about 15% in the number of patients treated. That is a significant number. Almost 7,000 patients leave our hospitals every day with their quality of life improved by medical intervention. It is not a service in a state of collapse or whatever words he used but there are pinch points where there is a demand for services, and we need to meet that demand. In the past two years, an investment of €1.3 billion has been made. In particular, mental health has been prioritised by Government, even in the difficult years, with an additional €140 million invested in those services. There are difficulties in recruiting in the medical health service, as the Deputy is aware. That is one that is being addressed, as well as extending the services.

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