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

Yes. We will have to call it that, a Cheann Comhairle. If there was a minor injury clinic in every town, it would take the pressure off all the accident and emergency departments and reduce the hours people must wait just to get an X-ray. We have a fabulous X-ray department in Carlow but it is only open part time. It is based in St. Dympna's Hospital. It is an excellent facility. I am looking for it to be opened five days a week because of the pressure on the accident and emergency department in Kilkenny. I compliment the staff in Kilkenny who do a great job.

It is also important to have primary care centres in our county towns. In April 2016, I was told the HSE proposed to deliver a primary care centre for the Tullow, Rathvilly and Hacketstown area using its own direct-build mechanism. The HSE said its capital plan would fund the centre. It has told me that Tullow was only identified last year.

I was told it was imminent, but it is still not there. This is an urgently required centre that has been promised for a long time. I have no date for its delivery. I was promised a meeting to get an update on this provision, but I still have not heard word.

When I speak about data and census figures, the county town of Borris has the oldest population in Carlow, with an average age of 44.9. It also needs a primary care centre because of all the towns in Carlow it is the most rural and spans several small townlands. It is a gorgeous part of the county. However, it is seriously under-served. Again, I have to highlight Carlow and our beautiful scenery.

Carlow urgently needs these projects because of the explosion in population. I look forward to working with the Minister of State to achieve this. We have huge issues in Carlow waiting for things. Tullow and Borris primary care centres are required. We also need an injury clinic for Carlow.

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