Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Luaigh mé anuraidh na deiseanna agus na buntáistí a bhaineann le calafort domhainmhara nua i Ros a Mhíl i gConamara. Tá caipiteal faighte ag an gcoiste stiúrtha don chalafort nua agus táimid Green Investment Group, GIG Macquarie ag súil le dul chun cinn go luath maidir le maoiniú don togra. Tá pleananna ag GIG McQuarry chun feirm ghaoithe a thógáil cois cósta ag Na Clocha Sceirde i gConamara agus tuigimid go léir an tábhacht a bhaineann le fuinneamh in-athnuaite agus na deiseanna a chruthaíonn sé.

There has been a planning application for a new deep-water harbour at Rossaveal in Connemara for some years. This has been debated in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in terms of getting it on a list for funding. In 2020 the Sceirde Rocks development for a wind farm proximate to the Rossaveal Harbour received special relevant status from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This is a game-changer in terms of the development of wind energy off the west coast. Obviously, a new deep-water harbour at Rossaveal would act as an incentive to develop that wind farm project and could be used in connection with the maintenance and development of the wind farm, both during and after construction. I have asked that this project be progressed and I hope the Minister can deliver funding for the project in the very near future.

This week representatives from the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, came before the Joint Committee on Health on GP services. As we know, GPs are at the front line of healthcare in this country and certainly with Sláintecare in development, the primary care medical networks and GPs will play a leading role in preventative medicine and health treatment. There are some 3,500 GPs in the country and clearly, as the population grows, the number of GPs will need to grow. As it stands, we are already well below the number of GPs per head of population in the UK. Some rural areas have no doctors. Some urban areas are under huge pressure with doctors not taking on new clients. I asked how a new GP just out of training sets up a practice in a growing urban area. It seems the biggest impediment is the cost of establishment, or the set-up cost.Assistance is needed in that regard. I ask that we have a debate with the Minister for Health on GP services and the impediments to increasing the number of GPs required in both urban and rural areas to provide necessary health treatment and preventive services.