Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I was not aware of it. I know that in my area, for example, there is huge provision of community and step-down beds and transitional beds for up to 11 weeks for people who it is deemed no longer need to be in an acute hospital and whose consultant has said they need only community or step-down care. As the Deputy will know, we are abolishing all inpatient charges in hospital settings next year. If she wishes to forward me any of the details of those cases, I will certainly have them looked at.

See this speech in context