David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want this to work. We have had discussions on this ourselves as well. I think everybody wants this to work.

I have tabled many parliamentary questions on this over the past year and I have had this out with Mr. Watt directly as well. I could not get costings and I was told that the work was not done on looking at demographic changes and an increase in demand that will happen if GP care is extended. We have to make sure that the foundations are right and that there is sufficient GP capacity because concern is that if this is done without putting in place the additional capacity, general practice will be overwhelmed and the waiting lists will be longer than they are for GPs, which will create real problems. That is why the substance of what was announced is important. We have to see the substance. Mr. Watt said the Department will engage with the representative body and there is more to be teased out. That strikes me as almost putting the cart before the horse. That should be done first and it has not been done. That is a problem. That is not a question; that is an observation on my part