Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with what both Deputies have said. I take a lot of positivity from the current situation. In order for the new cath lab to open we needed 24 whole-time equivalents and 21 are currently in place. At a time when recruitment is quite challenging across health services that is very positive. Two more healthcare assistants are being interviewed today and the recruitment campaign for the senior cardiac physiologist, one of three for the second cath lab, is under way. At a time when recruitment is challenging across all sectors that is really positive.

I do take on board the Deputies' points but it is important to point out that University Hospital Waterford - as we all know - is a busy level 4 hospital with 2,660 staff. This is an increase of 36% since 2019. The hospital's budget is €261 million for 2023, an increase of 30% on 2019. We have made significant progress but there is more to be done. I know we will all work together to get to the next step, which is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

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