Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cullinane and his party for bringing this issue to the fore. In discussing the delivery of services, I wish to speak about GP services in places such as the Iveragh Peninsula in south Kerry, which is losing GPs. If we do not have access to care in our rural locations in particular and if we do not have the requisite resources in those locations, it will be detrimental.

I very much welcome that a deputation from the Iveragh Peninsula, comprising people from Cahersiveen, Waterville, Portmagee, Valentia Island and places from that direction, met the Minister for Health recently. Fair dues to Deputy Cullinane because although he forgot to invite me to the meeting, he came to Kerry where he was most welcome. He understands perfectly well when he stands in the Chamber the issues in rural areas such as those. We need to have services that are based locally to take pressure off our accident and emergency departments. I am sorry if I am repeating myself but I will keep saying the following to see if it will get through to somebody. I want the people of Ireland to be treated with the same care and consideration that our animals are given. Any time an animal in Ireland gets sick, a veterinarian can be in the yard within two hours. The farmer does not have to carry the animal to the veterinarian but he or she comes to the animal in the yard or on the farm. At the same time, a human being who wants to see a GP might be waiting for 14 hours or for days on a trolley. That is detrimental. It is awful to think that we are in a situation like that when we are spending €22 billion or €23 billion per year on health. We are not delivering healthcare where it needs to be, which is closest to the home.

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