Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the Government's commitment to providing quality health care for all. This commitment is clearly demonstrated through the record levels of funding invested in health services in recent years within a framework for growth and reform as set out in the national health strategy on quality and fairness. This year we are investing almost €9.2 billion in the health service. This represents an overall increase for the service since the Government came to power in 1997 of 162% or an additional €5.7 billion. This extra investment in recent years has brought significant results, including record levels of activity in the acute hospital system and a whole range of additional services provided in all the major programmes of care. As a percentage of GNP, gross non-capital health expenditure in 2003 is estimated at 7.93%, the highest figure in almost 20 years. In four years, 1997-2001, the per capita spend on health services has moved from fifth from bottom in the European Union to just above the EU average, a significant figure in itself. This investment has been matched by increases in the quantity and quality of health care outcomes.