Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to raise this important matter. The Leopardstown, Ballyogan and Stepaside areas of south Dublin have seen a significant level of development in recent years, resulting in a dramatically increased population and, as a consequence, increased need. We were delighted to have a new health centre which was formally opened by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, a couple of months ago. It provides an excellent service which was much needed as rooms were being rented in local houses and offices in order to provide accommodation for public health nurses and speech and language therapists. The new centre is, therefore, very welcome and has made a significant difference.

The one service not yet assigned to the centre is that provided by community welfare officers and this is having an impact, particularly in current climate. People living in the surrounding areas of Leopardstown, Stepaside and Ballyogan are split between a number of health centres and individuals may only attend the centre closest to their home if they need to see a community welfare officer. However, it is not immediately apparent which health centre is the correct one and it is necessary, therefore, to make a number of telephone calls to establish which centre one should attend according to one's address. In some instances it will be the health centre in Ballinteer and in others it will be the health centre that is on the outskirts of Stillorgan, neither of which is served by a direct bus route, particularly Ballinteer. People who need to see a welfare officer are obviously already facing a difficulty or crisis they need addressed. For them, not having their own transport and not having a direct bus route is quite an imposition and adds to the stress levels and pressure people are already suffering. It would alleviate a considerable amount of hardship and make a very real difference to people in need if a specific community welfare officer could either be assigned to the health centre in Leopardstown-Ballyogan or alternatively could be there on certain days.