Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the detail in the Minister of State's reply. It is worrying to think that after an investment of €24 million in building the new emergency department in University Hospital Limerick the Minister has had to request a meeting with the chief executive officer of that hospital group in order to ascertain the reason people are on trolleys for unacceptable periods. I have taken this opportunity to highlight the issue and I sincerely hope that during the Christmas period as few as possible will have to experience lying on a trolley in University Hospital Limerick.

I commend the Minister on making a capital investment of €24 million in the hospital, which is a significant investment. I hope the CEO of the hospital group will deal with the management issues so as to ensure that people will have a comfortable experience when they attend the accident and emergency department in University Hospital Limerick. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, for coming to this House to address the issue.