Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I rise today to raise two issues but I will also raise my concerns over what is happening at University Hospital Limerick where we have the highest number of people waiting to be seen in the hospital. This did not just start today but has been going on for quite a while. We put in 60 replacement beds and many things have happened but the numbers are not going down. It is at crisis level at this stage and something needs to happen. It is timely, therefore, to have a debate on the hospital because I have heard stories of people waiting for days on trolleys for serious operations. It is just not good enough.

I welcome the fact that the national development plan, NDP, was announced yesterday and there is great number of very fine projects in it but I have one concern to do with the M20 between Limerick and Cork. This road is very necessary for economic development-----