Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

SouthDoc is paid €7 million annually by the HSE to provide out-of-hours GP care for public patients. Despite this, their centres in Blackpool on Cork's north side and Listowel in County Kerry are shut. The Blackpool centre has been shut for over a year. The HSE has expressed grave concern about this situation.

The health needs of the people of the north side must not be shoved to one side. When will the Taoiseach and Minister for Health intervene to make sure those doors open again?

Across the country, the State is failing to meet the needs of children with ASD. In Cork, at least 50 children are without a place in Cara Junior School next year. At least a further eight Cara Junior School students are without a special needs secondary school for next September. Will the Taoiseach speak with the relevant Minister to ensure places are immediately found for these eight students and plans are explored for a new school in Cork for schoolchildren with a dual diagnosis? Apologies, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I know this question would be more appropriately addressed to the Department of Education but the parents asked me to make sure it was posed.

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