Dr. Pádraig McGarry:

The Deputy hit the nail on the head such that it would be a duplication of services. There are already in place structures to deliver services such as MRI scans and so on but they need to be scaled up to accommodate volume. There is no need to develop another structure to accommodate that volume. What is important is access to services rather than the geographical positioning of them. The process of providing access to MRI scans and X-rays online is very complex because these services are integrated throughout the country. Splintering that up into small hubs in various areas of the country will result in exponential cost. We need to expand the current service to accommodate the need. In terms of what is proposed, the result would be more groups seeking to gain income as opposed to an increase in patients' access. As I said, what is important is access. We need to scale up access. Where it is already in existence it is working well.