Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for allowing me to update the house on the new primary care centre in Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny. The need for that primary care centre was identified as part of the HSE’s overall primary care centre development programme. It is to be delivered via the HSE operational lease mechanism. As the Deputy is aware, the HSE has advertised for and identified a preferred developer for this new centre. I am pleased to advise that an application for planning permission was lodged by the preferred developer in July 2025. In response to this application, Kilkenny County Council requested further information on 1 September 2025. The HSE has advised me that the developer is in the process of preparing a response to that request.

The preferred developer will issue a construction programme once approvals of the relevant statutory procedures have been secured. Once that programme is available, the HSE will be able to provide further updates on the timeline of the project, including the date of commencement of construction works on the site. When it is opened, it is envisaged that a wide range of primary care therapy services, community nursing services and GP services will be delivered from the centre. It is welcome news that the development of the new primary care centre in Graiguenamanagh is progressing and nationally we are trying to make progress in developing primary care centre infrastructure. There is a total of 180 primary care centres operational across the country with 51 of those opening since 2020. I assure the Deputy that the Department is engaging with the HSE to progress the further development of PCCs throughout the country, including specifically in the Deputy's good county of Kilkenny.

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