Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

From 1997 to 2001 our spending per capita on health rose from fifth lowest in the European circuit to being above the European average. That is an achievement in itself.

Waiting lists have decreased by 14%. The number on waiting lists represented only 2% of those people discharged from acute hospitals in 2002. A sum of €44 million is being spent on the treatment purchase scheme in 2003. I heard the Minister refer to this scheme, which is working well. We saw a programme on television a month or six weeks ago that highlighted its benefits and showed a guy returning having had treatment. It is envisaged that we will be treating about 600 people per month through that scheme. It might not be the most desirable way to do it, but the bottom line is that they are being treated, and treated well.