I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to implementing the national maternity strategy. Worryingly, media reports from Monday and yesterday reported that although progress has been made, it is nowhere near what was promised. There are serious concerns about the pace of reform in our maternity services and the inadequate level of resources. Since 2011 maternity services in the State have been marred by investigations of maternal and child mortality in many of our hospitals. In the west, two senior experts in midwifery work who were recruited to improve maternity services after the death of Savita Halappanavar have resigned only two years after taking up their jobs.

Some of the experts involved have said four new adequately staffed and fully resourced maternity hospitals are needed to address the growing level of risk associated with giving birth in our hospitals. Next Friday marks the fourth anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar in University Hospital Galway. Some four years on from this tragedy, there are still major concerns. In light of these developments, will the Government honour its commitments in A Programme for a Partnership Government in respect of funding and implementing the national maternity strategy?

I thank Deputy Adams for raising this issue. The national maternity strategy recognises that in recent years there has been a lot of pressure on the services provided as a result of the increase in the number of births. There are reports on that, which also take into account staff recruitment and retention, relatively low levels of obstetricians and midwives, the rising costs of services, insurance coverage and litigation, adverse incident investigations, increasing levels of clinical interventions and significant infrastructural deficits. While the birth rate has decreased since 2009, the most recent birth figure of approximately 66,000 remains higher than pre-2005 levels.

The National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street is to move to St. Vincent's Hospital. That matter is being progressed. Some difficulties in terms of governance have arisen, which I hope can be addressed.

Increased funding is anticipated to be available to the Department of Health under the Government's six year capital programme 2016-21 and as Members know, developments are proposed for the relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly Memorial Hospital, the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital to Saint James' Hospital and the University Maternity Hospital Limerick to the University Hospital Limerick campus.