Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In April 2016, in a parliamentary question to the Tánaiste, who was then Minister for Health, a proposed primary care centre for Tullow in County Carlow was queried. In the reply and on record, he stated: "The HSE proposes to deliver the primary care centre for the Tullow, Rathvilly and Hacketstown area using the direct/own-build mechanism." Therefore, in 2016. it was stated that the centre would be delivered. In a HSE reply on the matter at the time, it stated that its capital plan would fund the centre.

Five years have passed since then. I have been in contact with the Tánaiste, his office, the Minister for Health and the HSE. The executive told me that it has identified a site in Tullow that will serve as a primary care centre and will serve the local communities in Hacketstown and Rathvilly. This issue has been ongoing for five years. My understanding is that delivery of the centre is to commence this year. I ask the Tánaiste to deliver on the commitment that was given in 2016 by him as Minister for Health for the people of Carlow, Rathvilly and Hacketstown.

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