Figures I received in reply to a recent parliamentary question show that HSE west-north west accounted for 1,263 delayed transfers of care from hospital into the community due to lack of access to residential care, care in the community and rehabilitation. That accounts for one third of the national average in spite of HSE west-north west looking after less than one fifth of population. Of those delays, 938 related to residential care, which is roughly half the national figure for that category. This is the region that has the highest number of medical cards and the highest number of people in receipt of disability. We are talking about Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and west Cavan. We have the longest waiting lists for primary care, the longest number of hours on trolleys and the longest delay between diagnosis of cancer and getting to cancer treatment.

It appears the region with the most need is receiving the least resources.

I thank Deputy Daly for raising this issue. I genuinely appreciate his expert knowledge, as well as his knowledge as a TD, of health services in the west and north west.

One piece of work we have undertaken as a Government is we have created regional health organisations so that we can see the full spectrum of health, population, budget and staffing. This should allow us to be much more analytical in making sure that we are putting resources where they meet the needs and demands of an area and the demographic profile.

On foot of the Deputy raising this matter, I will ask both the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy O'Donnell, to look at the figures he has put on the record of the House and come back to him directly.