I found out from the reply to a parliamentary question tabled to the Minister for Health that €3.84 billion extra has been spent throughout Covid. The people of Carrick-on-Suir, east Waterford and south Kilkenny are bewildered as to why St. Brigid's Hospital was closed in the middle of a pandemic when all this money was being thrown around like confetti. I am asking the Taoiseach to meet the action committee, which he has not done, and to meet Councillor Kieran Bourke and other councillors in Tipperary. The Taoiseach is coming to Ardfinnan this week to see a troubled bridge over tranquil waters. Will he please make time to visit Carrick-on-Suir or to accept the invitation to meet the hard-working committee? Supporters of the committee will be coming to Leinster House next week in their bus loads with a petition signed by thousands of people who want to be treated in that hospital. They have faith in it, its staff and management and, indeed, the nursing care provided there. The Taoiseach has refused to meet them, as has the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. Will he please agree to meet that group during his visit to Tipperary?

First of all, the €3.8 billion was not thrown around like confetti. It was income supports for the people who needed income supports as they had lost their jobs because of Covid-19. It was to protect jobs in terms of companies-----

I was referring to spending on health.

-----and in terms of health services badly needed to deal with Covid. It funded a whole range of measures, so it was not wasted money; it was important money in that respect. The Deputy is correct that I will be meeting people in respect of Ardfinnan bridge. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked me would I meet with them.

I asked the Taoiseach in July.

Councillor Michael Anglim has been consistently asking me-----

Give them all a mention; good man.

I have been trying to facilitate my diary and get-----

I hope the Deputy does not object to me going to Ardfinnan-----

I am delighted.

-----with Deputy Cahill and Councillor Michael Anglim in that respect. Again, there have been various requests to meet. I have refused nobody.

The Taoiseach has not met them.

The only issue is to try to facilitate meetings and so on. I will do what I can in that regard.