Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. On the issue of emergency department overcrowding in general, we have made a lot of progress since the early part of this year when we saw record numbers of people being forced to wait on a trolley for a hospital bed. We see now, and have seen for the past couple of days, that the number waiting for a bed is running at a lower level than was the case this time last year. That is in part due to the extra beds, the extra staff and the extra investment that has been put in.

As the Deputy will be aware, a 96-bed unit is under construction in Limerick. I am keen to get that done and open as soon as possible. Increased use is being made of Ennis and we would like the same to be the case in Nenagh and St. John's as well. Plans are being advanced for a further additional block in University Hospital Limerick, which I accept is needed.

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