Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know this is not an easy situation but we need that meeting with the Minister, as the Minister of State has mentioned. That has to happen. It is incredible to say we cannot support a network of GPs who are, as the Minister of State said, entering into retirement age and who have no support in place. We cannot talk about legacy issues here because right now we are talking about families and people living in Galway and south Roscommon who will not have access to GP support. They will not have access and yet we are saying we will expand the GP visit card and will have spent the largest ever HSE budget last year and will spend the largest ever this year. Despite this, we will not be doing anything about GPs, Sláintecare or supporting families on the ground, even though GPs are the first point of contact when it comes to medical issues, mental health issues and trying to make sure our families are supported. I am frustrated and I know GPs will be very frustrated with the fact there is nothing in the budget this year to support Westdoc and an expansion of its services. It needs to happen. It is not enough that the HSE has been asking for this and has been putting in submissions year after year for the past five years asking for support and it has not happened. That is not good enough.