Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am very cognisant of the need for increased bed capacity and expanded service provision in the mid-west region. I will ask the Minister for Health to respond on specifics relating to timelines. There is consensus across this House on the need for greater investment in the mid-west when it comes to provision of healthcare and bed capacity. That is reflected in the programme for Government. I will get the Minister for Health to respond to the Deputy on the sequencing around that. In the context of the NDP, we want to ensure a greater envelope for healthcare infrastructure in our country. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will be able to provide a direct response to the Deputy around the specific sequencing. The approach from Government is to ensure we respond to the genuine needs reflected in multiple reports.

See this speech in context