Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that but it has become regular practice for the Minister not to attend. This is the third time an important health issue in Donegal has been discussed in the Dáil and the Seanad. Let us remember that it takes many days and sometimes weeks to table a Topical Issue and Commencement matter. It is important and precious to have such an opportunity. The Minister for Health has not appeared before us and been accountable, which is completely unacceptable. I assume that he will read the transcript of this debate. It is unacceptable that he has not come here to answer our questions. With all due respect to the Minister of State, she cannot know all the details about this matter.

The Minister for Health met the Donegal Diabetes Association last December at Letterkenny University Hospital and was made fully aware of the crisis in diabetes care in the county. In Donegal as many as 700 adults and children have type 1 diabetes and 6,000 adults and children have type 2 diabetes. We need a team of endocrinologists and nurse specialists who can deal with children and adults. We need a centre of excellence in the north-west region of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. The nearest centre of excellence for diabetes care is in Limerick and the paediatric endocrinologist at Sligo University Hospital has left her position to work in the centre of excellence in Limerick. The Minister has known about this matter since January. The position has been advertised and God knows how long it will take to fill the post. There is no commitment to provide cover, which is the vital issue from a Donegal perspective, in the clinics for children. There are 161 children with type 1 diabetes who rely on the monthly clinics for pump therapy. The pump therapy is the accepted way to deal with diabetes care and prevent long-term issues. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition and these children must live with it. We urgently need reassurance that the monthly clinics will continue and that the post will be filled.

The Donegal Diabetes Association has also made it clear that we need to double the number of endocrinologists and specialists at Letterkenny University Hospital. We need to ensure that we have the correct number of specialists to deal with a population living with diabetes types 1 and 2 in the county.I am disappointed the Minister is not present and ask the Minister of State to convey to him the urgency with which he must meet representatives of the Donegal Diabetes Association to provide reassurance on these issues.