Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As has been acknowledged, many patients wait for an unacceptably long period. While significant work continues to positively impact waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic. For the Saolta group, geography is a major challenge, as the population is dispersed and mostly rural, with approximately one sixth of the national population spread across one third of the land area of the State.

To address these issues, in addition to the waiting list action plan funding, significant increases in budgets have been allocated to hospitals in the group, including an increase in Sligo University Hospital's budget from €145 million in 2019 to €175 million in 2023. Galway has seen its budget in the same period increase by more than €70 million, to €441.7 million, and Letterkenny has risen from €142.7 million to €177.8 million in 2023. The Government recognises the importance of investment and is committed, with the HSE, the hospital group and individual hospitals, to ongoing investment in the strategic development of services in a challenging and geographically dispersed area. Through investment and reform, this Government is working to sustainably reform hospital waiting lists and to reduce times and waiting times, which will deliver improved access to care for patients throughout the north, north west, and the whole State.

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