The Neurological Alliance of Ireland gave a presentation in the audiovisual room in Leinster House yesterday describing the fact that Ireland is near the bottom of the European table in terms of the availability of neurologists. In fairness, the Minister created extra neurology nursing posts, but most of those have not been filled. We need to examine this matter. The issue is particularly acute in west Cork. The neurologist in the largest hospital in my area, Bantry hospital, will retire in May. As yet, CUH, which administers the hospital, does not have the resources to fill the position. This leaves people with MS and Parkinson’s disease in a particularly precarious situation. I ask that the message go to the HSE and the Minister for Health that steps need to be taken immediately to recruit a new neurologist in Bantry. The geographical area that the hospital covers is enormous.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will relay his points directly to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, but it is important that I relay to the House that there is no embargo on the recruitment of neuroclinical nurse specialists. We have 17 such posts filled and are going at full throttle to ensure we fill all 28. There is no embargo on filling positions on the four community neuro teams around the country either. We are filling those posts as well.