Page 118 of the programme for Government contains a commitment to invest €15 million in island communities. Bere Island off Castletownbere has over 200 permanent residents and is visited by many more holidaymakers. A permanent, registered HSE general nurse has been working on the island, but in recent times this nurse has been taken from the island to the mainland on various days to cover planned and unplanned leave by colleagues.

The Deputy should not get into the micro details now but deal with the macro issue.

This leaves many on the island without a service. This is a very worrying time for the residents who fear that this is the beginning of a withdrawal of the service. Will the Tánaiste assure the people of Bere Island that this will not happen?

I know Bere Island very well as I travel there every summer. The Government has invested heavily on the island, including in water and electricity infrastructure and a new pier. Millions of euro have been spent because we appreciate and recognise the role of island communities off west Cork, as well as other island communities off the west and north-west coasts. If there are issues with healthcare service provision on the island, I would like to hear more about them and can assure the Deputy that the Government will deal with them.