Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Ruane for her leadership on the issue of back to education and allowing for people to return to education. She should be admired for what she stands for and for encouraging people to come back into education. I commend her for launching the initiative today. It is about offering people second chances, but also first chances for those who go to school, leave early and opt out of the education system for whatever reason. As a teacher, who spent ten years directing education, I am aware of the number of people who in later life come back in and have that opportunity, including women and men and married, single, elderly and young people, who recognise that they have missed an opportunity but come back in. For me, education is about empowerment and giving people that opportunity. To be fair, the Minister, Deputy Bruton, has been very strong in the delivery of choice and opportunity.

In regard to the migration and cultural integration centres, I have not got the information but if the Senator gives the details to me, I would be happy to talk to the Minister afterwards. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, is very committed to the issue of integration and has done a power of work both as a former Chairman of the joint Oireachtas committee and as a Minister of State.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of University Hospital Limerick and the trolley crisis. As I said yesterday, we are talking about people who should not be on trolleys. It is important to recognise that progress is being made in terms of the delivery of extra beds. It is important to give the House a number of figures as doing so puts things in context. Attendances are up by 7% and admissions are up by 7.3%. Attendances of over 75s have gone up by over 20.1% and admissions of over 75s are up by 18.2%. There are more people now using our hospitals, or arriving into hospitals. The increased demand is about a combination of weather and other factors that we need to address as a country.

Why is the acute hospital the first point of entry or first port of call? It should not be. There should be investment in primary care. To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Harris, he has approved a further €5 million in funding to support the safe discharge of patients and has also increased home support packages. Some 300 additional transitional care beds have been allocated. In University Hospital Limerick, which the Senator spoke about, there are 17 new beds being opened. As the Senator knows quite well, it is about investment. I would like to hear the Senator's plan for what we should do in the emergency departments because I do not hear any plan from him about what we should do.