Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I ask that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, attend this House to discuss the issue of maternity services. A review was to be completed last year in the Dublin area. In that area last year there were 8,504 deliveries for 15 delivery beds in the Coombe Hospital, there were 8,540 deliveries for ten delivery beds in Holles Street, there were 8,256 deliveries for nine beds in the Rotunda and there were 1,556 deliveries for five beds in Mount Carmel. That is a total of 26,856 babies born through 39 delivery beds in the whole of Dublin which is quite an achievement for all the women concerned. A review was to be completed in December and that has not happened yet. There was to be also a countrywide review of the maternity services. I would be interested in the Minister coming to the House to discuss this issue.

While the Minister is at that, a review of the ambulance services was to be completed last year as well and we have not received any notice of that being done. I am especially interested in the provision of ambulance services for rural towns such as Carrick-on-Suir, which does not have one, and like-sized towns too. That is important to people in my part of the country.

I also want a debate in the House at some stage on motor insurance for young people. While all road deaths are terribly regrettable, on the matter of insurance a mere 2% of deaths involve young people who are provisional licence holders and under 25. A debate on the insurance issue is overdue. I would be delighted if the Leader could accommodate that.