Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The health service in Ireland is among the best in Europe. Those in this House and the wider community are aware of the problems being encountered but very rarely do we hear of the many stories of swift, efficient and successful treatment which takes place daily for thousands of people. Senator Ryan referred to this earlier and the Minister for Health and Children referred to recent survey results which bear it out.

Investment in the health services is covered by a seven to ten year plan and the level of funding is phenomenal. When the budgetary position of last year is compared with the €970 million, or 12%, increase for this year – bringing the total to €9.2 billion – it shows the Government's commitment to improving, wherever possible, the service provided.

The focus of the health strategy is correct. The emphasis on acute beds in hospitals and on primary care is the way to tackle the obvious delays in accident and emergency units. Some years ago, I was approached by a Ballyfermot GP, one of Dublin's busiest doctors. He suggested that a full primary care centre, based in the community and staffed by a team of GPs on a 24-hour basis, was the only solution to accident and emergency. He suggested that simple surgical procedures could be carried out on site and that available technology could be used to link up with a hospital where some patients would have records that needed to be accessed.

I am delighted that a major part of the strategy is the establishment of 24-hour GP co-operatives with an allocation of €10 million this year for the development of centres around the country. This will go a long way to freeing up beds in many of the hospitals which, in some cases, are being needlessly occupied.

The area that has probably benefited most from improvements in the medical card scheme is that of services for older people. There has been phenomenal change in this area in the past five years. I welcome the Minister's recent announcement of the commencement of public private partnerships for community nursing units for older people in the eastern and southern health boards. This will greatly increase the number of long-term care beds for older people, taking pressure off the hospital sector where, everybody agrees, there is undue pressure.