Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and I are absolutely committed to delivering the investment and reforms required to improve our health service. This very much includes the continuing development of primary care centres right across the country. Significant progress has been made and there are now 146 operational centres throughout the country, up from 70 at the end of 2012. Looking to next year we are targeting the opening of another 24 centres, so we have real momentum in the building programme. These facilities are key to enhancing and expanding capacity in the primary care sector and delivering high-quality integrated care to people in their own communities. I am happy to be able to confirm the people of Tullow will be able to avail of a primary care centre in the not too distant future.

I have no doubt the Deputy and, I dare say, the local community are waiting for building works to begin. I understand there would be some impatience and the desire for things to move more quickly. However, there should be no doubt there is a commitment to building a primary care centre in Tullow and, ultimately, the local community will be able to access health and social care services from a well-equipped, high-quality and purpose-built facility.

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