Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for bringing us up to date on the recruitment process. The Minister said there had been an earlier competition and that both candidates had declined the offer of the post. They declined it because of the financial package on offer, which excluded the rural practice allowance. If the HSE is re-advertising, which has happened, and interviews are to be conducted in the coming weeks, the Minister should ensure that the rural practice allowance is brought back to the table. I understand that management in the HSE at local level appreciates the need for this and has requested HSE approval at national level. This has been declined. This is essentially why we have to go through the advertising process again.

The Minister actually copperfastened the fears of the local community in his reply when he said he was examining various options including the reorganisation of lists with existing doctors in local areas. Essentially, if he goes down that route, which is what everyone is concerned about, some patients in the Borris-on-Ossory catchment area will be told to go to Roscrea and the rest will be told to go to Rathdowney or Mouthrath. That is the fear of the local community. The Minister wants to disperse the facilities that are already in place. There has been a big investment in the health centre over recent years and it would be a shame not to continue to have a doctor there. We know a single-doctor practice can only provide a limited amount of hours, but what will happen is that once the new recruit, be it a lady or a male doctor, is part of the MIDDOC system, there will be out-of-hours coverage for people in the relevant areas. To talk about reorganising the lists and sending some people miles further from where they traditionally got their service is not the answer.

My final plea to the Minister, on behalf of the people of Borris-on-Ossory, is to commit to reinstating the rural practice allowance. He has just said it can be financially difficult to attract people to the area. Doctors are entitled to earn a reasonable living, and this allowance is essential in that regard. It is essential that it be part of the package.

See this speech in context