I just want to bring to the Taoiseach's attention the new national trauma system, especially for children, which came into force in March of this year. Last weekend, a child from Listowel, unfortunately, suffered a major head injury after being hit by a car. The National Ambulance Service advanced paramedics assisted the boy at the scene, assessed him and decided he required to be airlifted to Temple Street Children's Hospital to be assessed by neurosurgeons there.

This was the first and successful test of this new national trauma system. The previous national protocols would require that a patient, particularly a child, would be assessed in the local hospital and then moved to Temple Street if required. The new national trauma system enables clinicians to get the patient to the right location and into the right care in a speedy fashion.

I compliment Keith Synnott, the national lead for trauma services, and, obviously, the National Ambulance Service for the work it does-----

Thank you, Deputy. The time is up.

-----and Temple Street hospital. I wish the boy a speedy recovery.

There is no question there.

There is.

Well, I did not hear it. Anyway, go on.

My understanding of the question is the need - it is an important point - for best protocols and practice in terms of dealing with trauma and emergency care. Getting a patient to the right place as quickly as possible is essential to better outcomes. It is important that a child or an adult would not be unnecessarily diverted to another hospital where that optimal care would not be available.

I too affirm and salute the work of Keith Synnott and the entire strategy which the Minister and the Government have endorsed around the national trauma centres, as well as the creation of such centres whereby people who need to be in them as quickly as possible get there. That is something I passionately believe in myself. I thank the Deputy for raising it in such a constructive manner.