Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise two issues, the first being driving tests and the long waiting times for tests. Recently, I was contacted by a person who is dependent on the use of a car for their job. They had a mishap on their first test and failed it, yet they had to wait 12 weeks for a second test. That meant three months of someone having to drive them to and from working and being on call to drive them to places to do with their job. I believe a 12-week wait is too long. Extra examiners and test centre staff were taken on. Perhaps somebody needs to go in there and see what the issue is, but 12 weeks is too long.

Second, I welcome the fact that the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, visited University Hospital Limerick last Thursday and turned the sod on the new 98-bed development. It is a very welcome move. The Minister also opened the new oncology unit. The staff do fantastic work under a lot of pressure. However, this morning 36 people were waiting on trolleys, and the hospital has advised the people not to go to the emergency department today because there are a number of very ill people there who are waiting for beds. It is a chicken-and-egg or catch-22 situation. We have moved a bit of the way towards resolving the issue at University Hospital Limerick, but I am calling for the Minister to come to the House to discuss it. I am always looking for a debate around it. It is an issue that needs to be addressed not only for Limerick but for the mid-west as well, because there are many people who are concerned about it.