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

It is only right to recognise that there has been considerable investment in the hospital in recent years, with a 20% increase in staff and a 20% increase in the budget since the Government came into office. The new Dunmore wing is an impressive addition to the hospital, with extra bed capacity, as well as extra services in the palliative care wing. There is finally now a second cath lab in the hospital, which is great to see. Given the number of meetings I had on it through the years, it was great to visit it and see that it exists. It can now be made proper use of in the coming months. I acknowledge the hospital needs further investment. The Deputy is right about that. The only thing we will see in Waterford is an increasing population and, like other parts of the country, an ageing population. We need to see the hospital developed and we need it to have more services, including additional bed capacity, added. That is the kind of thing I discussed in detail with the clinical team and the hospital manager when I visited the hospital. I am determined to work with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to get the funding to make sure that happens.

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