James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very welcome, indeed. I note the Deputy's comments. The Minister also very much welcomes the development of the integrated care hub in Omni Shopping Centre and the co-location of the consultant-led services, provided for the enhanced community care specialist teams for people with chronic disease and older persons, and the primary care services provided by Larkhill primary care team. The services are anticipated to provide facilities for the Santry, Beaumont and Whitehall areas, which the Deputy asked about. I hope things are well matched.

It is also welcome news that work on the delivery of the clinical space on the first floor is due to be completed before the end of this year. The Deputy asked about the timing. When fully operational, the integrated care hub will provide modern, fit-for-purpose clinical space for both the primary and community specialist teams. Bringing all the services together on a single site means patients no longer have to travel to different places to access various services. The community-based teams provide end-to-end pathways of care for patients, with greater levels of care delivered and fully managed within the community setting away from acute hospitals. A single integrated care hub also creates invaluable opportunities for professionals across disciplines to work together, share knowledge and learn from one another's experiences. The Minister assures the Deputy that the Government remains committed to the continued development of primary care infrastructure throughout the country, including in north Dublin.

See this speech in context