Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is probably the first conversation I have had where any Deputy has called for a reduction in healthcare service provision in a constituency. I do not think I have ever heard hospital staff calling for fewer services to be provided. We need to treat this carefully.

As I said, the number of referrals is not in line with what the Deputy is hearing. The number of referrals tripled in just two years. There is a run rate of nearly 100 referrals per week. If there is more that the GPs can be doing and there is a need for engagement with the GPs to make them aware, let us do that. However, rather than saying there are slots available so we should reduce the service or not increase the service, and I know the Deputy is not saying that-----

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