Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A rumour that a rural practice is going to close has an immediate knock-on effect on anyone who is considering applying to that practice. Somebody might wish to go into that practice, but he or she will be reluctant to do so as long as the rumour persists. It is quite common for rural practices to receive no applications or just one application. To my mind, that sounds the death knell for rural practices. We have to find some other means of supporting them. Ireland is not at the lower end of the table of OECD countries in terms of health expenditure generally. We are well up in the middle. We are competing with our near neighbours to a great extent. While we may need more resources, we must realise that better organisation is needed as well.

If we do not put the money we are spending to good use for effective, efficient and rapid progress, we will be criticised.