Despite promises given by the Taoiseach and former Minister for Health, diabetes care in Donegal is in a critical situation and requires immediate intervention. In Letterkenny, there are no consultant endocrinologists, no advanced nurse practitioners in adult diabetes, no podiatrists, no paediatric endocrinologists and no physiologists. There is no shared centre of excellence for children between Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospital and no access to adult insulin pump therapy due to a severe shortage of endocrinologists for over ten years. Recall waiting list times are now over 36 months in some cases although HSE guidelines state people with type 1 diabetes should be seen by an endocrinologist every six months. This is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue. When will the Government start to provide people in the north west with care at the same level as that in the rest of the country? Diabetes Ireland has written to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, about this. When will he address this crisis?

I am very much aware of the issue. I have been liaising with the Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland, including Paul Gillespie, on this matter. Like the Deputy, I have been working on the issue over recent years. We have seen significant improvements in paediatric diabetes services in Letterkenny in recent times. Additional supports have been provided that have brought about improvements in paediatric diabetes services, which presented a significant challenge and one we were all working on together.

There is a genuine challenge regarding adult diabetes. The permanent consultant retired recently and the hospital is going through the recruitment process to find a replacement. However, it is an ongoing issue. I am in touch with the Minister for Health on it and we will all work together, including with the hospital, to try to resolve it.