Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a second point I want to raise. We have 19 maternity units around the country. One of the challenges we now have in some of these units is that it is a challenge for them even to get consultants for obstetrics and gynaecology. One is talking about units in, for example, Letterkenny, in Sligo and one in Mayo. One is talking about Tralee, Wexford and Clonmel. They are smaller units and they are all finding it difficult now to recruit consultants for obstetrics and gynaecology. It will even be difficult then, when one gets a consultant, to have one specialise in this particular area. I am wondering how the association sees that developing now going forward. There is no point in having one major clinic in Dublin or in Cork. We also need people to have access to care outside of large centres of population.