THE Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, pointed to significant improvements for those on the public waiting list for heart operations in responding to a Fine Gael motion condemning his failure to take the necessary steps to eliminate the lists in accordance with Government promises.
He said he was allocating 50 per cent more to the general waiting list programme in 1998 than had been committed by his predecessor in the current year. The Minister added £12 million had been allocated for the coming year, £9 million of which had already been provided.