Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will pursue the Galway situation with the HSE. While we are waiting for permanent capacity to come in place, it is important that other interim capacity measures are taken to deal with that backlog, particularly in orthopaedics as well as other areas. That is why the more sustained contract with private hospitals gives the HSE options to deal on an ongoing basis with a range of services where there are backlogs and where works are on the way to give more permanent capacity in the public system. Significant capital works are under way. The service plan provides nationally for an additional 16,000 staff above the December 2019 levels. That includes more than 1,100 medical and dental staff, more than 3,500 nurses and midwives and 4,000 health and social care professionals. A significant expansion is provided for both in current funding for the health service, way and above anything in previous years, but also capital funding to increase capacity as quickly as we possibly can in surgeries, operating theatres and beds generally.

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