Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to a report in the media today, which featured in a number of newspapers, that the Government will establish a new national task force to tackle the growing hospital waiting lists. I wish to also refer to the shocking waiting list figures at which we must be alarmed. There are now 907,617 people waiting on treatment or assessment by a consultant and that is an increase over exactly one year of 66,167. Those figures were not compiled by me but by the National Treatment Purchase Fund on whom I keep a keen eye.I am a former director, twice over, and I tend to keep a very close eye on the figures released by the NTPF. It is an amazing organisation and it validates these figures for the Department of Health. The figures are extremely alarming. I say this in the context of Sláintecare. We have had much debate about Sláintecare and a lot of suggestions about why people left and did not leave. I appreciate the enormous challenges faced by the Minister for Health. I admire the Minister and I believe he is courageous. It is a very difficult job but we have to move on and we must address these issues. Based on these growing and alarming figures of 907,000, very shortly we will reach 1 million people waiting for treatment by consultants and for specialist care. We need to have a serious conversation. Doctors are alarmed and I believe the Government needs to be alarmed. As I said before, health and housing will be the hallmark of this Government. It is early and the Government has time on its side to deliver. It is really important.

I ask the Leader to again extend an invitation to An Taoiseach. I am aware she said before that the Taoiseach is always welcome to this House. Through the shared island unit he set up, and in which he has taken enormous interest, I am aware that he works closely and respectfully with all communities in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and issues all around Northern Ireland. There are really exciting opportunities for the shared vision for the island of Ireland. I would like to see the Taoiseach in the House as soon as his diary will permit.

I join with Senator Chambers, who is of course a native of Mayo and who probably knows more about the mica issue than most. It is a real concern and heartbreaking to see people's houses crumbling. I spent weeks in Mayo and Donegal this summer. I met with councillors who live there and who showed me at first hand. We are talking about housing for all and yet these people have homes that are crumbling in front of them. Not only must they have them repaired and replaced, they must also get temporary accommodation while that work is happening. I would welcome some sort of update or debate on that really important issue.