asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Gorey Nursing Association has had to close down due to financial difficulties after operating for 48 years; and whether it is intended to appoint a district nurse to take over the duties formerly carried out by the nurse employed by this association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gorey Nursing Service.
I understand that the Gorey District Nursing Association recently decided not to continue the provision of a nursing service in the district. The association had an annual grant from the county council but I am informed that the council had not been approached for additional help to meet the financial difficulties mentioned by the Deputy.
The appointment of a district nurse to provide nursing and midwifery services in the district is being considered by the local authority.
Is the Minister aware that there has been no nurse in the Gorey district area for about three months, that the local authority is fully cognisant of the fact and apparently have taken no action whatever and will the Minister try to see that the appointment of a nurse is expedited?
I think the Deputy will understand my difficulty. Apparently the Gorey District Nursing Association had made an arrangement for the maintenance of a district nurse and found that it was not possible to continue that arrangement but there has been no approach to the county council. I think the right thing for the Deputy and those interested in Gorey is to go to the local authority in the first instance.
I wrote to the local authority some considerable time ago and they have done nothing about it. Perhaps the Minister would like to do something about it?
There must be some conflict here because my information is that no request for an increase was made before the Gorey District Nursing Association closed down and no representation was made to the Department for an increased grant.
There was no representation for an increase. The representation was that the nursing association was ceasing to carry on and was for the appointment of a nurse to replace the existing nurse who was no longer acting.
I have every sympathy with the Deputy and the people of Gorey district but I think the Deputy will agree that it would be quite wrong for the Minister for Health to move the county council in this matter. It is a matter for the residents and if the residents take action and do not get results they can come to me.
The trouble is they have not taken any action.