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

Some 400 new beds were introduced in the system between 2013 and 2017, while 240 were introduced last year. An extra €1.35 million has been allocated to the Healthy Ireland fund to enable and encourage people to take care of their health. The Deputy facetiously referred to expecting people not to become sick. However, the Healthy Ireland programme aims to empower people to look after their good health to ensure they will not get sick. An additional €7.1 million has been allocated to improve ambulance services. The GP training intake rose by 194, in particular in rural GP practices. All of this indicates that we are planning for and investing in the future. With respect, all we can do is ensure the funding, programme and management are present in the HSE to provide for citizens. That is what Sláintecare is doing. That is what the money and personnel that will be invested to produce the roadmap for Sláintecare will do.

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