Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has said the Táinaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has failed to grasp the fundamental issues at the heart of the crisis in our hospitals.

ONLY 172 Traveller accommodation places will be built next year — around half the number provided last year. Just 15 local authorities will provide some sort of Traveller accommodation in 2003, while some of the largest county councils will build nothing at all.