Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are going to deliver the Sláintecare report. As the Deputy knows, I have three big asks and projects that I had to bring to the Government for approval, and on which I had to work with colleagues in other Departments to make sure they are backed up by significant resources. One concerns the capacity report on capital. Health has been starved of capital for years, even during the Celtic tiger era. Schools and motorways were built, but somebody forgot that it was actually important to invest in capital build for our health service. Beds were taken out, which was bizarre. Capital projects, the capital plan and the capacity plan have now been funded. Some €11 billion has been allocated to capital for health in the next ten years, compared to €4 billion for the past ten years.

The next piece was the GP contract, an issue Deputy Curran and I have discussed many times. Negotiations are to commence by the end of this month, backed up by resources to invest millions of euro. The next big piece of work is to bring the Sláintecare implementation plan to Government. I expect to do that by next month. I have been working very hard with colleagues across the Government to make that a reality. I also expect recruitment for the lead executive for the implementation office to conclude by the end of this month, and to be advised by the Public Appointments Service of an appointment shortly after that.

On Limerick University Hospital, the Deputy is entirely correct. It is absolutely an example of how not to do reconfiguration. Our promise is that change will happen now, and we promise that a better, brighter service will follow in the future. Limerick is owed beds, and needs beds. I am very determined to work with representatives from that area and hospital management to get that capacity quickly. Limerick sees more patients than Beaumont every year, and has fewer beds than Beaumont. We have to address that issue.

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