Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With respect, the Deputy will have to ask the Minister for Health that question, although I can ask on his behalf and revert to him if that is helpful.

Our focus is to implement Sláintecare, which will take about ten years. We are two years into that process now. For the first time ever, we have cross-party consensus on the kind of reform needed throughout the health system. We are putting significant resources behind the plan to get it done but it is not going to be done overnight. As we provide services, we also hope to be able to introduce new legislation to maintain those services in terms of timelines, standards and so on. Next year's health budget will be €1 billion more than this year.

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