Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I concur with Senator Ulick Burke on neurosurgery services. He and I were members of the Western Health Board at the same time. The expert view always has been that regional neurosurgery services are required in the west. It was even suggested that a special helicopter service be established to serve centres in Dublin and Cork. Given how urgent it is to transport people with serious injuries to medical centres, I hope the west will have a neurosurgery centre. While progress has been made in the provision of cardiac surgery and cancer treatment services in the west, neurosurgery services have not been provided. I call for a debate on the issue and ask Senators to support efforts to secure such services for the western region.