Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here to answer this question.

My query relates to Ballymore Eustace, a beautiful small town in County Kildare between Naas and Blessington. It has a population of 1,700 people and is growing all the time. In fact, it has the highest number of older people in Kildare, according to the most recent census. The issue I raise relates to the lack of adequate GP clinics. There was a full-time clinic in Ballymore Eustace and about 15 years ago, a GP based in Blessington, whose name I will not mention, took over the practice.

Initially, the agreement was that there would be four clinics a week in the HSE premises and that, therefore, the local population would miss one day. Over the first summer, however, without any consultation with the HSE or the local people, that was cut to two clinics, on Mondays and Tuesdays. Given that on bank holiday Mondays, the practice would not open, that meant there was a service of just one clinic morning a week, which is totally inadequate. The practice was trying to encourage everyone from Ballymore Eustace to go to Blessington, which is a distance away with poor public transport, and for people who did not or could not drive, it was a huge inconvenience.

A number people got together to organise a protest and to lobby on this. Rose Barrett O'Donoghue, a good friend of mind and somebody who is always to the forefront of trying to do what is right for Ballymore Eustace, spearheaded that, along with Muriel Maguire and the late Bernie Toomey. Eventually, they got another clinic, which meant there were three clinics a week, but given that one was held on Thursdays when the pharmacy was closed, it caused difficulties for people who attended the clinic and needed to get prescriptions. Covid-19 then came along and there was nothing for two years, including vaccinations. A doctor from Naas approached the HSE about coming, using the extra times and being able to give vaccinations, and the local population were delighted that this could happen. On the agreed day, however, when the doctor went to the clinic, the locks had been changed and the HSE said that it could not happen.

Eventually, after two years, here we are back down to two days on Mondays and Tuesdays . I feel very strongly about this issue and I recently met with Margaret Pearce and with Rose in that regard. A doctor is prepared to go in and give a full service in Ballymore Eustace but is precluded from doing so.The fact that there are only two clinics per week, and on some weeks only one, means the population, which is growing, is not served. I feel strongly that the Minister of State is in a position to help deal with this and ensure the people of Ballymore Eustace get the full-time GP practice they need and deserve.