Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The HSE has provided the cost to me. Some €40 million would clear the backlog. It is unfair that there is no backlog if one lives in Kerry, north Cork, south Cork, Carlow, Kilkenny, south Dublin or County Louth. If one lives in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway or Cavan, there is a substantial waiting list. That is wrong. The HSE is a national organisation and should provide the same service to all. Investing in transitional care and other hospital facilities is much more costly. This is more cost-efficient and I would appreciate the Minister of State raising it. I know there are many competing demands but it makes economic and social care sense to deal with this.