Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister is aware that, in regard to the NTPF, in the past funding went into public hospitals but it was found by the Comptroller and Auditor General that this just went into the general budget of each of those hospitals and there was no ring-fencing. Again, the reality is that we do not know how much a cataract operation or hip replacement operation costs. Unless we have that kind of detailed analysis of costing within the health service, there is no way of knowing whether we are getting value for money or not. That is my concern, namely, this will go into the general pot and we will not see actual improvements. For example, did the NTPF engage in open tendering for this money? How can the Minister assure us we are getting value for money? Would he not be better off concentrating on introducing the kind of fundamental reforms that are required in terms of activity-based funding and establishing elective-only hospitals? Would that not make a much more substantial difference to the waiting lists?

See this speech in context