The health services are facing a very challenging year and some serious analysis of structural changes will be required, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
Mr Kenny told the Dáil this afternoon that over €13 billion had been allocated for the health budget this year.
Person after person had pointed out for years the inefficiencies contained within the health structure, he said.
He said the Government had to get to a point where its objective of having universal health insurance made available for every person was brought about.
“That means focusing now on the provision of primary care centres, where people do not have to go to accident and emergency units in the first place, and where there is clearly an emphasis on community care," he added.
Mr Kenny was replying to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams who said Minister for Health James Reilly proposed to close between 550 and 900 public beds in community nursing homes this year. Some homes would close entirely.
The Government plan would mean the loss of acute hospital beds, cuts to community, mental health and disability services. There would be a reduction of 3,300 in staff, a reduction in home help hours and a delay in bowel cancer screeing programmes.
"This confirms that the health and the welfare of people is to be sacrificed by Fine Gael and Labour in pursuit of a failed economic strategy that is destroying public services, employment and economic growth," he added.
Independent TD Finian McGrath asked how services could be provided for senior citizens when beds were being closed in community nursing hospitals.