David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the surgical hubs, as anybody would, but they are not a substitute for the elective-only hospitals. I share the Minister's frustration but I have also expressed frustration about the slow pace of delivery of elective-only hospitals. We are talking about lots of big infrastructural projects in healthcare. Members of the Joint Committee on Health get frustrated with digital transformation and all the other big projects that take far too long.

The political system will have to deal with the fact that we have to challenge conservative thinking in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The political system is prioritising major projects in housing and health, especially projects such s elective-only hospitals which will make a huge difference and provide additional elective capacity. That is the big reform that will drive down wait times like never before. The waiting and foot-dragging is mainly caused by the Department of Public Expenditure, Reform and NDP Delivery but the political system is also at fault for not challenging and changing it. That is one of the big changes that has to happen in 2024.

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