The Taoiseach is not expected to be able to answer such a question.

The Taoiseach answered questions earlier about the overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, which hit record highs this week. I previously tabled a parliamentary question about an independent review being carried out on work and management processes in UHL. Given what is happening in the hospital, I ask the Government to expedite this report and implement its recommendations as soon as possible. It has been suggested that the tender process for a second MRI machine is about to be completed, for which I ask the Taoiseach to provide a date. The Government should also impress upon UHL the need for the resources and recruitment to follow the same timeline as the tendering process, in order that when that process finishes, the staff will be ready to manage it. These are some practical solutions which might be put in place to alleviate the overcrowding. I welcome the ongoing construction of the 96-bed block and the 60-bed modular unit, which I hope to see completed as soon as possible.

As the Taoiseach is aware, overcrowding, especially in UHL, is beyond a joke at this stage. It is an absolute nightmare for people. Over 13,000 people have been on trolleys this year. We met recently with officials from the HSE, who told us that the MRI scanner will be in operation in UHL in mid-December. However, it is concerning that we were also told the scanner would only operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene personally in this matter to ensure that the MRI scanner will run for longer hours when it begins operating in mid-December, as is expected. That is one of the keys things we need to do to solve the crisis in our hospitals. People deserve better.

I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. A capital budget of €19.5 million, €10 million of which was allocated this year, has been approved for a new 60-bed inpatient ward block at University Hospital Limerick. The HSE advises me that the enabling works are complete, the main contractor has commenced work and it is anticipated that construction will be completed in mid-2020. This project will go some way towards dealing with the acknowledged lack of bed capacity in the region. The deficit in diagnostic capacity at University Hospital Limerick is also recognised. A capital development proposal for an extension of the radiology department at UHL to include a second MRI scanner has been prioritised by the HSE to progress to design stage in 2020. In the interim, the UL hospitals groups has tendered for a modular MRI managed service. The National Treatment Purchase Fund will work with the HSE to fund the activity associated with the additional MRI scanner upon completion of the appropriate tender procedure.

I wish to address a matter which may have been my fault. When Deputy Bríd Smith raised an issue as a party leader, her question should have been answered by the Taoiseach. I thought I was getting value for money and shortening the debate by taking the Deputies' questions together.