The South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital presented a proposal for the opening of theatre 5, which is vacant because the two new ophthalmology theatres opened were for orthopaedic treatment. There are currently 11 orthopaedic consultant whole-time-equivalents in the hospital, with two more coming in January. The proposal was that this theatre would open and work 12 hours a day and up to 10.30 p.m. for recovery of patients there, and that would include additional staff. The proposal was made, the hospital understood it was accepted and it was acknowledged that it was accepted. The recruitment has occurred but the hospital has now been told the money is not going to be provided for the additional staff.

At present, there are 7,382 patients waiting for outpatient appointments, 363 waiting for treatment and 233 waiting for day care. That has all been put on hold now because the funding has been withdrawn and the hospital is concerned about it.

I thank Deputy Burke for raising the matter. I know the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is committed to working with him on this issue, as am I.

Significant investment has been made at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in recent years. The annual budget has increased significantly and staffing has grown significantly, with the former by more than a third and the budget by more than 64%. We have seen several significant capital projects completed with the relocation of the ophthalmology outpatient department from CUH to South Infirmary in 2022. However, there is clearly a need for those new developments and projects that were expected. On foot of Deputy Burke raising this today, I will engage with the Minister who will work with him closely on this.