Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

These measures are not being felt in the communities I represent in towns and villages from Tallow to Dunmore East, Portlaw, Dungarvan, Lismore, Cappoquin and Kilmacthomas. Capacity is not keeping pace with demand for GP services. Retirement, as I know the Minister is aware, creates difficulties and has created particular difficulties in west Waterford for people accessing GP services. The Irish College of General Practitioners said late last year that 25% of GPs currently working are aged 60 or over, so this problem will only get worse. There are significant barriers to young GPs entering practice, particularly in rural Ireland. They need to be faced down.

I put a parliamentary question to the Minister a number of weeks ago. The hands-off approach of the Department to, in particular, guaranteeing GP services to non-medical card holders, leaves an awful lot to be desired in rural communities including in my county, Waterford.

See this speech in context