Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have discussed the issue of homebirth and we need an answer to this that works for women in terms of choice and safety. While that is being progressed, significant improvements are happening across maternity care. Through the strategy we have hired an additional 465 staff who were very badly needed and who are making a big difference.

I have been in many of the maternity units and I have seen the upgrades to the birthing suites. There are pools there now, for example. The midwives are saying that things that might be considered small, cosmetic changes are making a huge difference to women and the experience they have. The clinical outcomes are getting better and better. A very comprehensive system is in place. One of the areas where we actually do well in e-health is in the maternity services.

Just last year, five new postnatal hubs opened at hospitals in Cork, Kerry, Sligo, Ballinasloe and Carlow-Kilkenny. While we will, therefore, resolve the issue the Deputy has quite rightly raised, he should rest assured that we are going to continue to invest in growing all of the maternity services to ensure they really can be seen as some of the best around the world.

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