Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Is the Taoiseach aware that a report published today by public health researchers in Trinity College has analysed the travel distance and travel time of people accessing health care and that the data have been gathered from throughout the country? The report shows that people living in parts of County Donegal, all of County Leitrim, the western part of County Cavan and throughout County Monaghan are at a major disadvantage as far as accident and emergency service access is concerned. The report calls for a formal and structured arrangement for the integration of accident and emergency services along the Border, not only to serve the needs of those in the counties I mentioned but also their counterparts living directly opposite on the northern side of the Border. Through such a structured arrangement, people would have quicker access to emergency services, especially accident and emergency services.

Will the Taoiseach urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to act on this report and to step up formal co-operation on health services generally on a North-South basis? In the course of Taoiseach's Question Time he acknowledged the importance of North-South co-operation. In light of this report I also ask the Taoiseach to urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to restore accident and emergency cover on a 24-7 basis at Monaghan General Hospital as an integral part of this address in the interests of all the people of County Monaghan.

I recently had personal experience of a quite serious road traffic accident just north of the Border from County Monaghan in County Fermanagh. The experience was very disturbing. No emergency service arrived at the scene of the accident for almost two hours despite repeated calls. The Garda would not come 200 yards across the bridge to attend the accident and it was almost two hours before the PSNI attended the scene. No ambulance came in response to the calls to the emergency services, although one happened on the scene after an hour and 40 minutes by chance as it travelled on an errand between Monaghan and Cavan hospitals. Two of the people involved in the accident, including the driver who was aged more than 70 years and was suffering from chest injuries, were left at the scene of the accident for a considerable time. They were subsequently brought to hospital and detained overnight.

There are many instances of this type of experience along the Border. I urge the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to exercise themselves to ensure we have an equitable health service in the Border counties and one that is truly caring and accessible. The report today from the Trinity College researchers confirms the importance of action before there are further unnecessary fatalities.

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