Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was very glad to see our local party members from Dublin 9 and 11 in the Chamber to witness part of this debate because they live within the vicinity of, and would be connected with, Beaumont Hospital. Senator Boyhan mentioned that there is a shortage of 15 neurological nurses in that particular hospital along with the many other shortages he outlined. I thank the Senator and Senator McDowell for their presentation. They were very instructive. I also thank the Patients Deserve Better campaign for the wonderful work they have done over recent weeks and months to highlight this very important issue.

It is shocking that we have such a shortfall of these highly specialised nurses right across the country. It is an issue that many Senators have raised in the House. It is not good enough that patients feel this shortage in their lives. Additional neurological nurses could be transformational for those people who acutely need them. I ask the Minister of State and the other Ministers in his Department to consider the contributions made to this debate and seriously consider funding these extra nurses.

It is not good enough that there is this shortfall. As Senator Boyhan has outlined, we have the opportunity to rectify that between now and budget day. I know a lot of work will be done over the summer. I hope the record funding of the health system will take this issue into account because, while it is a very specialised area, it impacts people right across the country and extra resources in the area would be of fantastic benefit to local communities and people who are really suffering. I look forward to hearing what the Minister of State has to say and to the rest of the contributions to the debate.