Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in raising this important matter for County Clare. The mammography service in Ennis General Hospital has been available to the women of the county since 1985. The money to put the service in place was raised by volunteers. I was appalled yesterday to learn that it was announced at a press conference that we are to lose this service. No consultation took place before this decision was made.

The mammography unit has provided service to the people of County Clare for the last 22 years. It is totally unacceptable that it is to be removed from Ennis General Hospital. I and other public representatives have been misled on this issue in recent months. We were told the service would be recommissioned once the unit was refurbished. That did not happen. As Deputy Pat Breen observed, this decision was made without any debate after the general election. It was not even raised at the western health forum.

This centralisation of services represents a black day for County Clare. I appeal to the Minister for Health and Children to reinstate the mammography unit at Ennis General Hospital as a matter of urgency.

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