Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The enhancement of primary care centres will have a manifold impact not just for health in the community by stopping people from having to access acute care in hospitals. The second impact it will have is with the recovery of the economy and the building industry which I believe is as important for those engaged in it with regard to their general and mental health.

I do not have the information on the Deputy’s specific area but I will get it for him. Primary care provision is reviewed very often. The progress we are making in it is extraordinary and going at a rate of knots. The interest in it is incredible too. I attended one of the meet-the-buyers sessions recently and it was impossible to get in the door due to the extent of interest. It is about ensuring we have proper facilities in primary care and, equally, that we get GPs, general practitioners, to co-operate through providing their specialisms and covering certain geographical areas. There are difficulties in some areas, as Members know, but we are managing it.

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