Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Ó Caoláin stated, Inishturk Island has 58 inhabitants, most of whom are elderly, with the age ranging from nine to 97 years. The island does not have a public health nurse. One of the residents is pregnant and a number of others suffer from diabetes and heart problems. The island also has a state-of-the-art medical centre. The resident nurse retired in September 2014 and the Health Service Executive was informed of the forthcoming retirement in December 2013. Since the nurse's retirement in September last, a public health nurse has made three visits to the island. Last week, the residents were told it was hoped to have a nurse in place shortly. While a replacement was recruited in November, the Health Service Executive is awaiting vetting clearance and so forth.

Deputy Gerry Adams received a reply on 3 February 2014 which stated the HSE was in the process of recruiting a nurse to cover Inishturk Island due to a retirement. It noted that while the process was taking place, the island would be covered on a whole-time basis. This letter was received almost 12 months ago, yet the issue has still not been addressed. It is an indictment of the health service that people living on an island nine miles off the coast are dependent on emergency services if they require medical attention.

It is Government policy that islands must be afforded health services on a par with their counterparts on the mainland. It is obvious that Inishturk Island is being discriminated against through the failure since September 2014 to implement that policy. It is a disgrace that any system would allow 58 people to have no medical cover or assistance.

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