Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to acknowledge the presence of Sarah Clancy of Clare PPN in the Public Gallery. There is a need to address the issues highlighted in the report. For example, the whole question of attracting and retaining GPs, particularly in rural areas, needs to be addressed in a comprehensive way. It is clear that the rural practice allowance that is there is just not adequate. These issues need to be teased out and resources and policy changes need to be introduced. I am proposing that the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, who attended the launch of the report yesterday, arranges to engage directly Clare PPN, and that a cross-departmental working group is established, led by the Department of Social Protection, which includes officials from other Departments such as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Children. Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the Department of Health; the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. I ask that the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, engages directly with Clare PPN and establishes that cross-departmental group.

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