Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

For well over two years I have been putting this question to a number of Ministers and nothing fundamental has changed. This is the last opportunity I will have to raise this issue. There is a critical lack of public health nurses in Dublin 12 and Dublin 8. There are in many cases no development checks happening for children. These are vital checks, as the Taoiseach knows. I have mother after mother coming in to me or contacting me about their children not being offered appointments. I have met mothers who were told their children could be as old as four before it is hoped they can be seen. I met two families yesterday out canvassing who were told it would possibly be two years before their four-month-old children are seen. An gentlemen came into yesterday about his elderly neighbour who has gone home from St. James's Hospital twice this year and had no public health nurses to back her up. This is a critical issue for young families in the area and I have seen no progress on it. On 18 April, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, said it is not a funding issue or a moratorium issue, but it is due to a lack of public health nurses. Brian Kearney, head of primary care, responded to a parliamentary question by saying there has been "an ongoing challenge in relation to the recruitment of these key posts and the service currently does not have approval to recruit". There is a contradiction here somewhere and I need to get an answer because families and elderly people in the Dublin 12 and Dublin 8 area need to be looked after.

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