Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Another esteemed Deputy from County Kerry yesterday raised the issue of University Hospital Kerry and was invited by the Taoiseach who did not yesterday have specific information on that hospital to meet him to discuss the issue. I do not have specific information on the hospital, but on behalf of the Taoiseach extend an invitation to the Deputy to join his brother, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, and meet the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, on the issue.

In general terms, I mentioned earlier that we were in a recovering economy, which is a good place to be. It is because of that that the Government is investing in health services and focusing on meeting needs, building capacity, investing in infrastructure, implementing the new GP contract and delivering a ten-year reform programme based on the Sláintecare report of the all-party committee. We are building new major infrastructure, including the national children's hospital and the new maternity hospital. Such facilities will be the hallmarks of a modern health system. The national development plan commits capital funding to deliver 2,600 additional hospital beds, 4,500 additional community care beds, as recommended in the capacity review, and three new elective hospitals. Some or many of these measures will feed into the county Deputy Michael Healy-Rae represents and improve outcomes for patients and those living in it. I reiterate that the invitation of the Taoiseach stands. I ask that the Deputy bring specific details of the issues he has raised in regard to University Hospital Kerry to the attention of the Minister and the Taoiseach who I am sure will be happy to discuss the matter with him.

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