Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I am glad the Minister used the French example. The figures she cited for the North of Ireland and Britain do not reflect the EU average, which stands at one GP per 1,000 people. I would like to ask the Minister about access to medical education. Places are critical in terms of the number of general practitioners we turn out. We also need to examine the issues of affordability. Access to medical training continues to be affected by elitism. I do not mean any disrespect when I use that word. Very few families can afford to pay for the many years of training a young person needs to become a doctor. The course that is followed during the period of training is quite intense. We need to bear in mind that fine young people from many families across this country who could become excellent general practitioners are not able to access what they see as their natural calling as a consequence of the exorbitant and prohibitive costs involved. I would like that aspect of the matter to be addressed so that we can achieve equality of access.

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