Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When the Minister says that it is not funded to the same level, I take that to mean none. Zero additional funding will be put into breastfeeding supports. I have concerns about the other care services for women, an issue he touched on in his response, and that is gynaecological services. The budget identifies no new funding for these and the funding to meet the waiting list action plan seems to be far less than in previous years. I am also concerned that this lack of investment in the public services means that the HSE will rely increasingly on outsourcing these services to the private sector. Some 35,000 women are on a gynaecological waiting list with more than 2,000 of them waiting for over a year for an outpatient appointment and 7,000 women have been waiting longer than six months. I acknowledge that in some cases the long-term waiting list has been reduced but I am concerned about the sustainability of this if investment is not continued.

I appreciate the Minister may not have a response to hand on those waiting list figures, on the reduction in the longer term waiting list or on the potential impact the lack of investment will have on this. However, I ask him to come back to me with a written reply. This is causing deep concern for the women of this country. They rely on properly resourced gynaecological services to identify issues early. We have spoken umpteen times about the need for early intervention and the early catching of any issue before it develops into a much more serious condition.

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