Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the first question on waiting lists in Cork, Deputy Buckley asked specifically what the Government is doing about waiting lists. The Government allocated €85 million for a winter initiative this year: €40 million for winter measures; €11.6 million to deal with waiting lists and another €35 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to outsource some procedures to deal with those waiting lists. A further €5 million was allocated in the aftermath of Storm Emma to try to deal with the waiting lists. One hundred and eighty-nine beds have been opened this winter in a series of different acute hospitals throughout the country in an effort to alleviate that crisis. I assure Deputy Buckley we will continue in our efforts to do that.

Deputy Ó Caoláin addressed a question to the Taoiseach on the in loco parentisclause. I addressed this last night during the aforementioned debate here in the House. I am happy to speak with Deputy Ó Caoláin afterwards and meet him. I am aware the Deputy is clear and passionate on the matter and wants to get more definite information. I am quite happy to sit down with the Deputy and a couple of officials and try to get that moved on, if that is acceptable to him.

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