A number of constituents have contacted me in recent times about the delay in being able to access insulin pumps due to the chronic underfunding of diabetes services in the Saolta Hospital Group hospitals in Letterkenny and Sligo. For example, there is a waiting list of more than 80 referrals in Sligo alone. It is affecting people’s quality of life. I have been raising the various aspects of the diabetes service in the north-west region through parliamentary questions constantly over the term of this Dáil and I get some lovely aspirational replies from the Minister and the HSE. Yet, on the ground, the reality for my constituents in Donegal is that nothing changes. Can the Taoiseach have a word with the Minister for Health and see that funding is provided for insulin pump services for the hundreds of Donegal-based diabetes sufferers who are in need of it?

I will speak to the Minister on that issue. I would point out that health spending generally has gone up by more than 20%.

Not in Donegal.

I am not so sure it is a funding issue but I will have the matter looked into and raise it with the Minister, given that it has been raised by the Deputy.