Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in congratulating the Irish women's soccer team. It is phenomenal. It was great to hear the players speak about how inspirational it is and will be for future generations of young girls watching the team now. They will consider taking on football and, it is to be hoped, will play again. A local player, Heather Payne from Galway, came through Ballinasloe Town AFC and is playing with them as well.

I acknowledge the incredible funding that has come through the Department of Rural and Community Development, through the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. We see in excess of €700,000 coming into County Roscommon for more than 30 centres and community halls across the county. In Galway we see about €860,000 coming in for nearly 40 community halls and centres. There are so many aspects to this, including retrofitting, renovating, painting, green initiatives and solar panels. All of this means there will be a real sense of pride and activity for the volunteers in those local areas doing that work. There will be a real sense of seeing that progress happen in the next few months. It will also be a real boost for local tradespeople because that work will happen in the coming months and that fund is to benefit people living in towns and villages.

I acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who came to the House this morning to speak to us about the expansion of Westdoc services for the Ballinasloe area. There was a public meeting held on Monday evening with public representatives. I acknowledge also the support of Senator Murphy in a serious, urgent crisis and for a case that has been made and that needs to be taken into account now for the expansion of Westdoc services for those GPs in the Ballinasloe and east Galway area who are at crisis point right now. There are GPs retiring and they are not being replaced. Nobody wants to go into a role in which they will work a one-in-eight rota. They are in a rota. They have attempted to join Westdoc and the HSE and the community healthcare organisation, CHO, in our area have put in the request. However, it is not happening. I would very much appreciate any support on this. We hope to meet with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. Any support regarding these services would be very important.