Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Mo bhuíochas le Sinn Féin arís as an deis cainte seo a bheith agam chun cur síos a dhéanamh ar sheirbhísí leighis taobh amuigh de na hospidéil agus chomh lochtach is atá sé in ainneoin pholasaí an Rialtais le fada an lá. I thank Sinn Féin for the opportunity to speak on this motion. I did not think I was going to make it but I have. This is a practical motion that calls for action, for a task force to be set up and for a public contract for GPs to be developed. Of course, that was done in our neighbouring country a long time ago. The motion includes other practical suggestions and I could not disagree with it. Last Monday week, I attended a public meeting organised by Fine Gael Senator, Seán Kyne in Clifden. There were over 200 people in a small hall because the district hospital has closed once again. There were somewhere between 200 and 250 people expressing their utter frustration. That meeting took place approximately one year after a previous public meeting at which they were given assurances that the hospital would be kept open. I say this with Galway city in mind. There are 33 people on trolleys in Galway today. I am going to zone in on that figure. Has the Minister of State or his officials spent time on a trolley?

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