Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. If I did mention the word "insanity", I did not mean to do so. However, what is going on in the HSE is definitely bordering on insanity. It is proposed to close two facilities, one in Cashel, which is north of Clonmel, and another in Dungarvan, which is south of Clonmel. Both are excellent care facilities. The Taoiseach's spiel of announcements is all waffle. We know from the National Association of General Practitioners conference held at the weekend that local GP services nationwide are at crisis point and on the verge of collapse. FEMPI cuts of up to 38% and the massive number of GPs emigrating are having an impact.

On the Taoiseach's point that the primary care centres will have to be open 24-7, the facility I am speaking about was not allowed to that when it had a contract, albeit it was only a 14-day contract. That contract was withdrawn after eight days despite the huge success of the facility in terms of reducing pressure on the local accident and emergency service. If that was not an insane decision, then I do not know what it was. According to expert analysis, the facility provided expert treatment services. Having recruited additional GPs and staff who were told on a Friday evening that they were to start work the following Monday, the contract was withdrawn. That is a waste of money and resources.

The Mary Street Medical Centre is a wonderful facility. Other facilities in Clonmel have invested hugely in equipment to enable them provide diagnostic services. These services could help to reduce overcrowding in accident and emergency departments, provide people with quicker access to results, thereby reducing long-term damage to people's health, result in huge savings to the State and, also, reduce stress on families. The HSE is confused. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to allow this centre a three-month trial of operation? There are similar services in Limerick, Cork and Kerry and they are operating successfully. What is wrong with Tipperary? It is the biggest inland town in the country with, consistently, the highest number of people on trolleys at South Tipperary General Hospital, better known as St. Joseph's hospital. The Mary Street Medical Centre can provide this service. We need to allow the people in the primary care centres to do their work without having one hand tied behind their backs. These people want to do the work and they are able to do it. They are professionals who have invested and they have all the staff required to carry out the service.

See this speech in context