Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support my colleagues in the call for a debate on planning. Senator O'Toole referred to a shortage of medical personnel, speech therapists, physiotherapists and nurses. Out of hours GP services in rural areas appear to have many teething problems. There is certainly room for improvement when people in County Galway ring the service and are told that doctors in counties Roscommon and Mayo are covering County Galway.

The former president of NUIG, Dr. Pat Fottrell, is chairing a committee on medical personnel and I hope his report will provide an opportunity for us to debate the issue. I would like to thank the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, for giving us two new surgeons at Portiuncula Hospital as well as funding for a new unit.