I am moving on to a long list of speakers. Some of the Deputies on the list are not present. I call Deputy Guirke.

I wish to raise an urgent issue in respect of children's diabetes services at Mullingar regional hospital. Parents have been notified in writing that, due to ongoing unsafe staffing levels, all paediatric diabetes clinic appointments have been cancelled with immediate effect. This affects people in five counties. Many of the parents of the 130 children and adolescents attending this much-needed service have contacted me. They are panicking at the thought of having to travel to Tallaght, Temple Street or Crumlin hospitals, which are already at capacity.

The clinic needs urgent supports now or it will be permanently cancelled and the consultant paediatrician will seek employment elsewhere. The parents stressed the importance of keeping Professor O'Grady on board. Time and time again, he has gone above and beyond for these children.

I ask the Tánaiste or the Minister for Health to intervene immediately and put the resources in place to save these vital services at Mullingar regional hospital.

I wish to speak on the same matter. When I raised this as a Topical Issue matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in November, I was told that there should be no cause for worry regarding the service in Mullingar. That clearly was not true because what the parents and staff have feared for almost two years has come to pass. The number of children going through this service means it should have two clinical nurse managers but it has none. There is no social work or psychology element to the supports. It has been made explicit that unless the full multidisciplinary service is resourced, it will not come back. The Tánaiste must intervene.

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta.

I ask him to please engage with Professor O'Grady and ask the Ireland East Hospital Group for as full-----

Deputy, thank you. I ask for co-operation so that we can get everybody in.

I thank the Deputies. This is obviously a matter of grave concern to people in the region. I do not have any details to hand but I will inform the Minister for Health that the matter was raised in the Chamber. I will ask him to look into the matter and get back to the Deputies directly.