It is unfortunate that there is no Minister here to represent the Department of Health because many of the questions this morning are directed to that Department. A Programme for a Partnership Government included a commitment to reduce waiting lists and trolley queues. Yesterday there were 600 patients on hospital trolleys, most of whom were elderly people with complex needs. There were 80 patients waiting on hospital trolleys in University Hospital Limerick. Emergency measures are needed to address the specific and unique issues in Limerick. Deputy Kelly referred to the unique structural difficulties. There has been disproportionate underinvestment at Limerick University Hospital - by a figure of 20% - compared to other model four hospitals. As the Minister said, we cannot wait for the winter initiative to address these issues because it will not kick in for three months. I ask the Minister to pass on four requests to the Minister for Health. There is a need for a lifting of the embargo on nurse recruitment at University Hospital Limerick. There is a need for immediate provision of a second MRI scanner in Limerick, which is absolutely essential to allow patients to flow freely through the hospital. There is a need for an immediate release of funds for short and long-term step-down facilities. The Minister also needs to address the consultant manpower deficiency that is slowing down the health service.

I again raise an issue which I will probably raise for the remainder of my time in the Dáil related to University Hospital Limerick. It is a national disgrace and the Minister for Health should intervene personally. He attended the emergency department on 21 August. He told nobody that he was coming; he snuck in and snuck out. Nothing has got better since. In fact, everything has got worse. On Monday there were 81 patients waiting on trolleys, on Tuesday there were 80 and today there are 66. University Hospital Limerick has had 1,200 patients waiting on trolleys in September, 33% up on the figue last year, and the month is not yet over. We want to know what actions the Minister will take. He has said there is no recruitment embargo at the hospital, but obviously there is. We need 100 nurses and want to know when the embargo will be lifted. We want to know when MRI scans will be available as delays are being caused. We want to know when proper home care facilities will be available in order that patients can leave hospital when they are ready to leave. We want a proper answer to that question. The Minister has not come into the Chamber to answer any of these questions, but for the past few weeks he knew that they were coming up. He knew that they would also arise during the Topical Issues debate, but he did not turn up.

The Deputy's time is up.

I expect the Minister to come into the Dáil to make a statement on University Hospital Limerick and to stop hiding from all of us.

As I said, it is acknowledged that trolley numbers in University Hospital Limerick are unacceptably high. The HSE is working actively with the University of Limerick hospital group to ease congestion at the hospital, with the focus on facilitating transfers to level two hospitals, assistance from rehabilitation units and primary care services and the prioritisation of diagnostics to aid inpatient discharges. I will ask the Minister for Health to respond to both Deputies directly.