Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is going to be chaos in our health system next year, just as there was each year before because the Government is deliberately not making the types of improvements and reforms required with the funding that is necessary. It stands in stark contrast to Sinn Féin's comprehensive proposals. We have a plan to reform the health service, boost capacity, train the workforce of tomorrow and reduce the costs for ordinary workers and families. We would take big, bold steps towards universal healthcare, delivering 150,000 additional medical cards today. This is what is needed. We would slash the cost of medications for all households, reducing the drug payment scheme maximum payment from €80 to €50. We would phase out car parking charges and reduce prescription charges. The Government has done none of this. Sinn Féin would have funded a multi-annual plan to tackle overcrowding in our hospitals and we would have delivered major investment for workforce planning to train the health service of tomorrow.

We called on the Government to provide a social welfare package to support families, carers, pensioners and people with disabilities-----

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