Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Phil Ní Sheaghdha and I spoke yesterday about many of these issues. I will visit Limerick on Thursday when I will go directly to the hospital and meet the hospital group. The Deputy is right in identifying the ongoing pressures there in spite of investment, increased resources and a new emergency department. The pressure is still not acceptable in Limerick or in Galway and other hospitals.

I agree with the Deputy's core point on waiting lists. I made similar contributions in this House from where the Deputy is sitting. Waiting lists have not been acceptable for too long. The question is what we are doing about it. I have allocated €350 million this year specifically for waiting lists. Obviously, it will take much more money to build the permanent capacity in the public system because we need a public health service that can deal with total demand for the country. We want a single-tier system. At the same time, we must get help for all of the men, women and children who are waiting. That is what the €350 million plan is for. I look forward to publishing it shortly and discussing it in detail with the Deputy and other Members.

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