Yesterday 702 people were being treated on trolleys in hospitals across the State, a shameful figure. Of those 702 people an incredible 15% or 106 people were in my local hospital, University Hospital Limerick. This year UHL has already seen a record of 20,628 people treated on trolleys and chairs. Every year that number gets higher but it seems that no concrete action is being taken by the Government to tackle the problem. The failure to get to grips with this crisis and to deliver the promised bed capacity over the last three years has put and is continuing to put patients' health at risk. After last year's disastrous winter, which saw avoidable deaths and a massive street protest in Limerick, we had hoped that the Government would get to grips with the issue but the inaction of the Government points to this winter being worse than ever. When is the Government going to act decisively so that the people of Limerick and the mid-west can get the emergency department they deserve?

I know there are serious pressures in UHL and that is why the Government is committed to providing significantly more beds there and to increasing resources and staff. Again, I will ask the Minister for Health to contact the Deputy directly on this matter but I am aware of the pressure that the hospital has been under in terms of patient care.