Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, to the House and wish him well in his portfolio.

My party colleague, Councillor Shane P. O'Reilly, recently brought to my attention the lack of provision of a general practitioner, GP, service in Mullagh, County Cavan. In the past 12 years the town's population has grown by over 45% to 3,000 people. In 2009, two GPs were in place, one operating for two days for half an hour a day while the other covered three days for the same time each day. Since February 2011, no GP service has been available to the Mullagh community and its hinterland. People there have to travel either four miles to Moynalty or seven miles to Bailieborough. This is unacceptable for a town with no public transport and causing extra hardship and cost for those without their own means of transport to access GP services.

My party colleague, Deputy Smith, raised the matter in the Dáil on 3 February and received a response which was similar to the one he received from the Health Service Executive, HSE, Cavan area manager. It stated a contract was in place with a GP for two sessions per week in Mullagh but that in February 2011 the GP informed the HSE demand was not sufficient for the service. Since then no GP service has been in place. Will the Minister inquire of the HSE as to why this service is not provided even with a contract in place?