Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to be able to introduce this matter, which relates to the need for a primary care centre for Birr. The town has a growing population and also serves south Offaly and, indeed, people from north Tipperary. The people of the area have been left without a Midoc service for well in excess of two years. I am aware that the Sláintecare policy emphasises the need for the delivery of primary care units and acute services within the community.

I stress the urgent need for a commitment to be given to establish a primary care centre in Birr. There was great disappointment when the application for approval of a site that had been earmarked for the centre was refused by the HSE after 12 months of waiting for a response. I was very disappointed, as a Deputy serving the area, not to get an answer to my parliamentary questions on this issue. I commend the cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Councillor John Carroll from Birr, who has done fantastic work on this issue. Councillor Carroll met with HSE representatives recently and it is my understanding that there are now three options on the table for a site for the centre.

I implore the Minister of State to ensure that her Department commits to the timely delivery of a primary care centre in Birr. The services it would provide are badly needed and there is a shortage of GPs in the town. If we had a state-of-the-art primary care centre, it would likely attract GPs to the town, which would solve that problem at the same time. Will the Minister of State to commit to engaging with the HSE to secure the delivery of this facility for Birr? I have tried engaging with it and am very disappointed to say that I have had little or no response. My understanding is that when the site application was refused, after 12 months of people waiting to see what was happening, the decision was communicated by way of a telephone call to the county councillors in Birr. That is totally unacceptable.

This is a very serious issue and we need a commitment that progress will be made on it. The people of Birr deserve better and I am here today to ensure, on their behalf, that everything is done to secure the delivery of the primary care centre and that the process is not dragged out any further. As I said, the town has been without a Midoc service for more than two years, which puts it at a huge disadvantage. We must think of our elderly population and the children with particular needs who require access to acute services within a primary care setting.

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