Vol. 503 No. 6
180 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the special arrangements, if any, in place for the provision of health services on the 21 inhabited islands; the services available; and the proposals, if any, he has to improve and extend these services. [11020/99]
Our inhabited offshore islands lie within the areas of responsibility of three health boards and it is the statutory responsibility of these boards to provide health services to the population. I have been advised by the North-Western Health Board that it has established a steering committee which is in discussion with island representatives to agree an action plan for service enhancements. Donegal County Council and other agencies also work with the board in this pursuit. Both Aranmore Island and Tory Island have permanent public health nursing services and there is also a permanent general practitioner service on Aranmore which is also provided with a weekly dental service, a monthly chiropody service, a twice-monthly community welfare service and a social work service as required. There are plans to introduce an optician service. At present the board is considering a proposal from the community group on Aranmore Island for a small nursing unit on the island. The proposal is that the community group will provide and run the nursing unit if subventions are provided by the board and if some capital grant is provided by the board. There is a social work service to Tory Island as required.
The Southern Health Board has advised me there are seven inhabited islands in its region. There is a permanent public health nursing service on Cape Clear Island and on Bere Island. A general practitioner attends as required and in addition there are regular clinics on Cape Clear Island. School medical services are provided annually on Cape Clear, Sherkin and Bere Islands but the children of Whiddy Island attend school on the mainland. There are no children on Dursey, Hare or Long Islands. The board has informed me that it would not be feasible to provide a dental service on the islands as the proper maintenance of equipment would be a particular difficulty because of infrequent use and the problems of corrosion from sea air. Similarly, there are no arrangements for the provision of ophthalmic services on the islands. Although neither service should require frequent visits to the mainland. Visits by social work staff and community welfare staff are arranged as required. Arrangements are being made for the provision of an island based chiropody service.
The Western Health Board has advised me that apart from the general practitioner resident on Inishmor a second general practitioner has been engaged under a pilot scheme allowing for the provision of a full service to Inishmor and a weekly service to Inishmaan and Inishere. There is a weekly children's dental clinic held on Inishmor and annual school visits to the three Aran Islands. Residents of Inishboffin attend Clifden health centre for dental treatment. There is an annual visit by an ophthalmologist to the Aran Islands for both adults and children, residents of Inishboffin attend Clifden health centre. A chiropodist visits Inishboffin twice a year but there is an arrangement that if treatment is required by an individual who is visiting Galway they will be facilitated. Assistance is provided to residents of Inishmaan and Inishere travelling to Inishmor for dental treatment. Arrangements have been made to establish an inter agency working party which is expected to report later this year at which time decisions on developments on offshore islands can be taken.
