Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his reply. I heard the Minister say on local radio that there may be money available for people who need transport. Some people must borrow €110 to travel to Galway to have a pacemaker checked. Galway is almost as far from Blacksod in Belmullet as it is from Dublin. Older people cannot afford that price. The Minister for Health and Children told me that it is up to the HSE to deal with this problem, but the HSE says the legislation constrains its managers from any spending that will put it into debt and jeopardise the service. It appears that it will have a surplus of €2.5 million in running the emergency ambulance service so this expenditure would put it into jeopardy. If there is money available in CLÁR, it should be provided if possible because these people have a right to transport. The HSE is willing and able to provide the transport if it has the money.

Ballycroy is in a CLÁR area which has suffered a massive 50% depopulation in 50 years. I greatly welcome the work of the CLÁR programme and congratulate the Minister in that regard. The health centre in Ballycroy is falling down. Neither the practice nurse nor the practice secretary have rooms. I am aware that the Minister is concerned about this hinterland which needs services. There are a plethora of services in other places but the service in Ballycroy is poor due to lack of infrastructure. The Minister agrees that this is the problem. If there was a health centre here, people would receive much better service, including paramedical services such as chiropody, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dental treatment and leg ulcer treatment, etc. The existing health centre dates back to the time when doctors were treating diphtheria and people had to walk to the centre. It urgently needs upgrading. The former health board sold off the surrounding land which was a retrograde step. A new centre is needed and although the HSE must apply, I ask the Minister to consider it seriously.

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