FINIAN McGRATH, TD,
Sir, - I would like to add my voice against the scaling down of the National Treatment Purchase Fund. For any Government to claim that "the NTPF had been unable to spend the money" shows a total lack of understanding of our health service. There are many sections in our service that are crying out for a €15 million injection.
The Government might not like to hear that it is implementing cuts. Patients are waiting, children are suffering and speech therapy waiting lists are over 18 months long. This is the real world.
I now call on the Government to take the tough decisions and invest in our health services. Stand up to the "cuts brigade" in the Cabinet and you will get the support of the public.
People know deep down in their hearts that an equitable tax system will deliver a quality health service. Let's do it now. - Yours, etc.,
FINIAN McGRATH, TD,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.