Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am honoured to be here as the first TD from Shannon, County Clare. It would not have been possible if it were not for the people of Clare, my family, party activists and those who have gone before me.

The number of patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick continues to consistently be the highest in the State. Last year, more than 6,000 patients left UHL's emergency department before completing treatment. The number of patients on trolleys for January of this year is 2,234. That is an increase of 161 on this time last year. The situation has deteriorated. In Clare, we have had a number of high-profile deaths caused by the crisis in UHL. This is not only distressing for the families left behind; it is also distressing to my constituents in Clare, some of whom have told me they would rather stay at home than risk going into a war-zone type situation. What immediate steps will the Government take, given that this crisis has continued since the 24-hour accident and emergency department at Ennis was closed in 2009?

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