Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My predecessors, when they came to Government, during the greatest financial crash, had to make horrifically difficult decisions, as did Fianna Fáil when in government, with regard to how to spend money and invest in services. I agree that the NTPF works. While the Deputy is not suggesting it, it should not be about just putting money into private hospitals. Deputy Louise O'Reilly and I have this debate regularly. That is why we spent more than a third of its budget on increasing capacity in the public health service last year. While it is not my creation, I like to think that we have tried to tweak and improve it. I agree that it works. There is an unfilled consultant appointment post in Tallaght which the hospital is actively trying to fill and has been for approximately ten months. It is important to give credit to hospitals. This is a hospital that has come up against a difficulty with regard to neurology outpatient appointments. It has come back with practical, tangible actions. I have outlined three today and hope it will see significant improvements.

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