Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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254. To ask the Minister for Health if he has examined and how he will address the ongoing issue of long waiting lists at accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14202/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Pressures on EDs have been rising, as the population is both growing and ageing. However, 2015 and 2016 have seen increases in the Health Budget, with investments in capital expansion and the implementation of measures designed to tackle overcrowding in EDs.

It is important to note that patient experience times have improved in April 2016, with 67.6% of patients being admitted or discharged within 6 hours and 81.7% within 9 hours.

In June 2015, €18m of additional funding was made available under the 2015/16 Winter Additional Capacity Initiative. As a result, 366 new or re-opened beds have been made available to date.

Extended access to GP care and an expansion in services offered by GPs such as treatment for chronically ill patients, can help to reduce ED pressure. There are currently 50 locations where primary care infrastructure is under construction, or, at an advanced planning stage.

I attended the ED Taskforce Implementation Group meeting on Monday, which continues to be focussed on driving improved ED performance, achieving an integrated approach across Acute Hospitals, Primary Care and Social Care to the challenge of ED overcrowding. At the meeting the Taskforce agreed to adopt a two-year approach to winter planning, and commence planning for Winters in 2016 and 2017.

Capital expansion is also ongoing. New EDs are open at the Mater Hospital in Dublin and in Wexford General Hospital. The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to progress new ED facilities for University Hospital Galway and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.

A review of bed capacity in our health service, coupled with the review of the hours of service of Medical Assessment Units, are further key commitments in the Programme for Government that are intended to alleviate ED overcrowding.

These increases in the health budget, measures to increase bed capacity, along with new ED facilities and maximising the potential of units and services to treat patients outside of the hospital setting will all contribute to improving ED waiting times for patients.