When the Taoiseach was Minister for Health in January 2015, he said he was sick to death of the overcrowding problems in our hospitals. That month there were 631 people treated on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. Last month, January 2023, there were 1,080 people in need of a bed while they remained on trolleys in UHL. I wonder if the Taoiseach is still sick of it. Under the watch of the Governments of which he has been a member since 2011, the numbers in UHL have got worse and worse. There has been much inactivity and many statements of intent but when the chips are counted, there has been no improvement in these metrics. They have got much worse. I ask the Taoiseach to take hold of the situation and push for the speeding up of the two new 90-bed units which it is hoped will address part of the problems at University Hospital Limerick for patients and the hard-working healthcare professionals who work there. Two weeks ago, as the Taoiseach will be aware, 11,000 people marched through the streets of Limerick looking for changes. What can they expect from the Taoiseach today?

I thank the Deputy. On the issue of emergency department overcrowding in general, we have made a lot of progress since the early part of this year when we saw record numbers of people being forced to wait on a trolley for a hospital bed. We see now, and have seen for the past couple of days, that the number waiting for a bed is running at a lower level than was the case this time last year. That is in part due to the extra beds, the extra staff and the extra investment that has been put in.

As the Deputy will be aware, a 96-bed unit is under construction in Limerick. I am keen to get that done and open as soon as possible. Increased use is being made of Ennis and we would like the same to be the case in Nenagh and St. John's as well. Plans are being advanced for a further additional block in University Hospital Limerick, which I accept is needed.