Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Owenacurra has been raised by more than one person, including Deputy Hourigan on several occasions. We have raised the issue of St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. Clogheen is 40 minutes' drive away. St. Teresa's is that distance away from Carrick-on-Suir with no public transport. It is hard to say they are trying to bring care back into people's homes. That is not possible for most of the families we are talking about given the age of the people concerned. Instead of keeping them in a community where, as Senator Craughwell has said, families are at least within walking distance they are suddenly put 40 km or 40 minutes drive away with no public transport. A lot of the families do not have cars. It is hard to accept the witnesses are trying to do what they say they are.