I am sure the Taoiseach will join me in welcoming James Good and Abbie Marsh in the Public Gallery, who come all the way from Ballincollig.

At 8 a.m. today, 635 patients were awaiting beds in our hospitals. Of those, 394 were on trolleys. We now have over 1 million people on hospital waiting lists. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has stated that we need up to 7,780 more hospital beds and 1,200 more GPs by 2030. The Government's plan, as I understand it, is to deliver 3,378 beds by 2031. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach announced 268 extra nursing places throughout the country, as one of the largest expansions in the history of the State. I agree that that was wonderful to hear, but I have to note that not one of those is going to the Mercy University Hospital, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital or Cork University Hospital. They are in the Taoiseach's constituency.

We are now entering the winter, which is going to be very challenging. My understanding is that we had about 491 patients waiting for admission to an inpatient bed at 8 a.m. today. The Minister has, for example, completed a national procurement in terms of short-term therapeutic beds with a view to aligning with the winter emergency planning for our hospitals to try to provide additional short-term capacity that will be required over the winter period. There was also a meeting with all the regions recently in respect of the winter surge and winter plans.