Two weeks ago, I raised the issue of University Hospital Kerry and the fact that no orthopaedic surgeries or replacements of hips or knees have taken place for over four months. I got a letter from the Minister on 27 September saying surgeries would begin in the next few days. We heard they were to start at the start of September, then the end of September and then yesterday. However, they have not started. We hear that maybe they will start next Monday. We also hear that they may not start until next February. There are many people in pain, including 124 people who have appointments that are not being fulfilled. Many more are waiting to be assessed and are in pain. I ask the Taoiseach to ask the HSE and managers to spread the work around and make appointments in Cork, where there are two hospitals, Limerick and Dublin.

The Deputy may want to spread the questions around.

It is wrong to have people in pain, perhaps until Christmas.

The Deputy's time is up.

Please do something to help people who are in pain.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The first priority is to have theatres back up and running in Tralee hospital. I will pass on to the HSE his suggestion that patients be transferred to other hospitals, whether in Cork, Croom or Limerick, if there is spare capacity.