Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for attending the House again. The last time she was present I referred to the closure of breast cancer services in Mullingar hospital. While we all accept specialised services and centres are needed, I do not accept we should be discriminated against because we come from the midlands. No transport services have been put in place to make it easy for people from the midlands to access services in Dublin hospitals. For example, the people of Longford and Westmeath have to leave home at 6 a.m. to get to Dublin for chemotherapy. This is inhuman.

I spoke previously about a situation where a lady told me she had to get off the train to be sick and then get back on. This is unacceptable. The service that is provided goes halfway around the world picking up patients. The Minister said there would be a revision of transport services. We should have a state-of-the-art, comfortable service that brings patients to Dublin. Will the Minister give me the up-to-date position on that service?

I am also concerned about the primary care unit in Athlone. When I asked the Minister about this the last time she was in the House, she said she did not know anything about it. Does she know anything about it now? There have been further developments. This is an ongoing project on the Clonbrusk site in Athlone. I take my hat off to the local manager who is fantastic and is doing his best with the resources he has. The project has been ongoing since 1999. We were told that it would go to planning and construction stage in April 2007.

Last month we were told the situation had changed and that general practitioners were not interested in being involved in the primary care unit. I worked as a medical secretary for ten years and have experience of making health representations for people but I cannot understand how we can have a primary care unit without general practitioners. The project has fallen further behind. The size of the unit will now be reduced and the project must return to the design and planning stage. This seems like delaying tactics. I ask the Minister to use her offices to engage with the general practitioners. The reason they do not want to be involved in the project is because there has been no compromise and the delaying tactics since 1999 have not inspired confidence.

I am also concerned about an anorexic adolescent from the midlands whose treatment and care in the UK costs the regional health service €500 per day. We have only six adolescent psychiatric beds in Ireland. Will the Minister comment on this? Can we improve the situation? I can only imagine what it must be like for that young person's family with regard to visiting her and keeping in contact.

The departmental website advertises free dental services for all children under 16 years of age. In the midlands area children up to sixth class are treated free. However, we have had a reduction in the number of dentists in the area this year and are now short of one dentist. When I asked about dental services the manager could only say that is the situation. This is unfair. If we want to encourage good dental care, we should be able to offer those under 16 free care.

On the issue of the pharmacists, what will happen in the event the strike goes ahead. I know issues can be resolved at the last minute and I hope this happens. The Minister is very capable——-