Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has suggested that extra funding is being provided for the health service, but I remind the House that the budget for the health service is still €1.5 billion less than it was before the economic crash. The services are not being provided. The Government has focused on improving the lot of the wealthy, for example, by giving them tax breaks, rather than looking after citizens who are crying out in need of services. The Taoiseach's answer is not good enough for the people of Donegal, particularly the elderly, who do not have a service to go to. When they attend GPs to look for help, the letters and referrals sent by those GPs are being "returned to sender", in the words of the director of mental health services in the county. This issue needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Staff need to be provided to allow this service to be restored and helped to get up and running again. It is not enough to say the service plans have to reviewed and sent back again by the Minister for Health. The Government has to act to ensure services are there for the people who need them.

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