Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, for the work he has done and I wish him well for the future. I thank him particularly for coming to Belmullet hospital and for the courtesy he showed to the staff there and to those protesting outside. I am aware of the issues discussed with him. We will have a follow-on meeting, including on the commitments he made on the day.

I had several questions, as the Minister of State can imagine. I am glad he is back. The question I wish to ask is on Erris and the primary care centre. Expressions of interest were sought some months ago for a new primary care centre in Bangor Erris. What is the status of that? I am a bit concerned that those who submitted the expression of interest have not been contacted yet.

Once expressions of interest are sought, does it mean there is an absolute commitment to the capital funding for the primary care centre and the necessary staff? I am prioritising this question today because there are very serious circumstances in that the general practitioner covering the area is moving to another area, which will leave us without one. I acknowledge the positions for Bangor and Glenamoy have been advertised separately but the only solid way forward is to have a fully staffed and resourced primary care centre in Bangor Erris to meet the needs of the population there. The assessment of needs has already been made.