This week, a 90-year-old woman was left waiting four hours in severe pain for an X-ray in the emergency department of St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. The X-ray unit in Carlow does not operate fully. This 90-year-old woman could not stick the pain, so she had to leave the emergency department and go home. Her doctor cannot treat her because he does not know the extent of the issue. When her own doctor in Carlow requested an X-ray in Carlow - we have an excellent X-ray facility in Carlow but it only opens part-time - the response was that there is a three-to-four week waiting list to get an X-ray. This is an urgent issue. People, particularly older people, are going to the emergency department but they could be staying in Carlow and getting an X-ray there. This is important. A man phoned me yesterday regarding his daughter, who was in the emergency department in Kilkenny from early morning until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. We need these facilities to be open. I ask the Tánaiste to consider these facilities and seek to keep them open. I will also be looking for an injury clinic in Carlow.

The Deputy has made a very fair point. There has been exponential growth in diagnostic access for GPs across the country in the past two years. I will ask the Minister to examine the situation in Carlow to see if that can be expanded. I am not clear about the reasons which it has not been. There may be personnel issues. I just do not know. I will follow that up. I have no doubt the Deputy will be seeking additional facilities as well.

I will. I thank the Tánaiste.