Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response to my query. I met a farmer recently who was discussing the lack of GPs and where the country was going. He said it was terrible to think that nowadays if he had a sick animal in one of the cattle sheds in the morning or one which got sick in the middle of the night he could ring a vet and one would be out within a couple of hours but if a mother or father had a sick child and was trying to get access to a GP in some cases the GPs' doors would be closed purely because of their workload. That illustrates in very simple terms the gravity of the situation. I note from the Minister of State's comments that talks are going on. GPs will say they have been going on too long. There is a crisis, particularly in the rural counties such as Monaghan and Cavan.It is past time that this issue was taken more seriously and that the Government addressed the situation. The Minister of State outlined that there will be efforts to put in place assistance in respect of the medical cards and that those people will be seen at some point. What about the people who are working and do not have a medical card? How are they meant to survive and where are they meant to go if their children are sick if there are no GPs available?