Anthony Lawlor (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to talk about the €17 billion plus that has been allocated to the health service. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the matter. I ask him to first arrange a debate on the excess of €700 million that was overspent by the HSE last year and where that money was spent. We should have a debate on why in my own community health region there was a 100% increase in the number of people waiting for homecare packages and why we did not get any of that €700 million.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister here to discuss the health service plan before it is announced by the HSE thus enabling us to have an input into the plan. We should also consider why there has been an increase of 12,000 in staff in the HSE since 2014, which is more people than in the entire armed forces.

I would also like to see a discussion on the capital side of the health service plan so that we know what is happening around the place, whether it is in our own constituency or other constituencies.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister or someone senior to facilitate a debate on health spending.