Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I note she said that no changes are proposed to service delivery arrangements. That, in itself, is welcome. However, it is important that it is made absolutely clear to the Department of Health and the HSE, in the future and in these more difficult financial times, that the provision of GP services at centres, which are local to people throughout County Donegal and the rest of the country, are a red line issue and not up for negotiation. No one has any problem with GPs and the HSE talking to each other. However, the key point which has not been made clearly enough today or by the HSE is that from a Department of Health and a HSE point of view the continuation of GP services in a local area and within a reasonable distance from people homes is absolutely critical and will be at the core of any discussions so that people can be assured there is no threat to local GP out-of-hours services, whether red eye or pre-midnight services. That is critical and I ask the Minister of State to be clear in that assurance.

Will the Minister of State comment on the current restriction that applies to NoWDOC cars in that they are restricted to the speed limits even when they are on emergency calls? This does not make sense. Many roads in County Donegal have 80 km/h speed limits because they are not national roads. Only a few weeks ago, a GP car responding to a call in the Carndonagh area was fined and received two penalty points. That needs to be addressed. If someone in County Donegal or elsewhere is waiting on an emergency GP service, one does not want that GP stuck doing 30 mph within a 30 mph zone or 80 km/h within a 80 km/h. One wants the GP to put on the emergency lights and get to the patient as quickly and as safely as possible. Will the Minister of State assure the House that people will continue to have access to GP services within their local areas?

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