I raise with the Taoiseach an issue regarding a former Waterford health centre. It is a rural general medical practice on the borders of Tipperary and Waterford. The HSE carried out a recruitment process and selected a general practitioner back in July. We were told on 18 September that it would only be a matter of days before we would have an appointment there. Luckily, we have 1,700 patients and a thriving practice there. A total of four GPs applied for this practice so it is not the case that we cannot get them. Thankfully we can.

The HSE is foot-dragging and fooling. It beggars belief that it has €17 billion of a budget and this is the way those responsible treat a rural community with 1,700 patients in a lucrative practice. We cannot get clarity. We get emails from week to week about the contract being signed but it is not being signed. There is major uncertainty for the patients.

I wish to add that the staff there do excellent work. This is hard on everyone. It is typical of the HSE passing the buck.

I wish to raise the same issue. I support Deputy Mattie McGrath in what he has said. We both raised the matter in the House two weeks ago under a Topical Issue debate and we have not received a comprehensive reply. The situation is that a doctor is after retiring and there has been locum cover there for the past 12 months. We all know rural practice is in decline, but the situation is that 1,700 patients are very concerned. We need some kind of definitive answer. Will a full-time doctor be assigned?

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. I share their concern about the health of their constituents. I am reassured by Deputy Mattie McGrath's assertion that four people have applied for the post. That is encouraging and perhaps indicates that the improvements in the rural practice allowance have made a difference. I do not know what the story is with the contract, but I will certainly raise the matter with the Department of Health and the HSE and provide an update for the Deputies in writing.