Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for a fairly comprehensive reply. Obviously, I cannot be happy with it. The reply states: "While neither of these GPs has GMS panels exceeding the maximum number of patients permitted under the GMS scheme, the HSE is aware that they are under pressure to provide such services but has not been made aware of any particular difficulties in this regard."

However, this GP contacted the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS, and said that he was unable to continue to take patients like this. He has told me that he will have to move those patients on after six months. This is an unsatisfactory situation.

These are exceptional circumstances. Ballaghaderreen is a town that accepted less fortunate people with open arms. Everyone played his or her part in that, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement on that. However, when questions were asked at the time, we were told quite clearly that if extra support was required in the area of health or education, it would be forthcoming. I can tell the Minister of State that if it was not for the volunteers and doctors in Ballaghaderreen, those people would not have a great existence. They constantly look after them and provide services to them. They do it because they say it is the Christian thing to do. I ask that the Minister of State bring the message back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, that when people from places like Syria are brought into direct provision centres, we must provide the locality with some extra services. We should look at that proposal. A special case should be made for towns like that, and for GPs who are caught in those situations. They cannot cope, and that is the bottom line.

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