Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to co-operate. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The situation in emergency departments in many hospitals was particularly acute over Christmas and the post-Christmas period. University Hospital Limerick, UHL, is facing constant challenges. It seemed to be in crisis management mode for most of last year. The difficulties at the hospital reached an unprecedented level earlier this month. According to some commentary, there are concerns about the management of the hospital, which is located in the Dooradoyle area of Limerick. I do not know whether these issues relate to the management, the management structure or the management system. I would like clarity on this aspect of the matter. I know that the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Ministers of State, Deputies Catherine Byrne and Jim Daly, and the other people are doing their very best to deal with this issue by allocating resources and managing change.

I welcomed the investment of over €20 million in the new accident and emergency department at UHL. I would have expected that things would have improved with that investment. I have noted commentary by the Taoiseach and the Minister in recent times to the effect that there are management challenges at the hospital. I think the people of the mid-west have a right to know what those management challenges are. What is being done about them? Are they being addressed? What are they? Are they causing bed blockages? Are there human resources issues or structural issues? It is really not good enough to comment that there are management challenges at a time when people are on trolleys for between 48 and 72 hours, as has happened in recent weeks. I would like clarity on what the management challenges are. I would also like to know what is being done about them.