Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----in what he has done.His actions are appalling. Last week was positive with regard to Brexit. I wish all the parties well and I hope that there is no leaking. The last thing we need is a leak from any quarter. Hopefully common sense will prevail in the United Kingdom and among the DUP, to make people realise that they have many responsibilities.

I share Senator Gavan's concern about Limerick hospital. We have raised it many times here. I would not question the Minister's motivation in going to visit the hospital. He was called on by people across the floor in both Houses to make an unannounced visit and he did that in good faith. He did not tell anybody he was going because that would defeat the purpose. A modular unit is being built as we speak. The money has been provided. There were no roadblocks in providing the money for the modular unit. Within five weeks of it being requested by the Mid West hospital group, the money was sanctioned. That will be a 60-bed unit. It will not solve the problems. I call for the 93-bed additional unit that has been committed to in the Project Ireland 2040 capital plan to be fast-tracked. That would certainly alleviate the pressures in the hospital in Limerick. We need to be mindful of the people who are on trolleys. It is not acceptable. I have great sympathy for them and for the staff who are working in those dreadful conditions. All that we can do is call on management to escalate its discharge policy. The slowness in discharging patients from the hospital into step-down facilities is a problem that needs to be dealt with. The Government can only do so much. I believe that the management in University Limerick hospital group needs to improve the flow of early and fast discharges, otherwise we will see a repeat of the current situation. I accept that it is only part of the problem and that capacity is another significant part. A solution to that capacity problem is on the way, which I consider a partial solution. The ultimate solution is a 60-bed modular unit coupled with the 93-bed unit that is committed to under the capital investment programme.