Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Absolutely. When it is operational, it is expected that it will have GP, dental, community nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics and psychology services, as well as diabetic breathanyl screening and outreach for chronic disease help, all of which are so very important. The Deputy is right when he says that recruitment is a challenge. We have vacancies in the system, notwithstanding having the funding for it. I hope the primary care centre model will be a welcome addition to counties Kilkenny and Carlow. The Deputy will be aware of the existing facilities at Kilkenny Ayrfield, Kilkenny city east, Callan, Thomastown, Ballyhale, Ferrybank and Shamrock Plaza in Carlow. There is a further primary care centre in the early stages of development or planning for Tullow. These centres are a really important part of our care network. As I said, we have 51 opened since 2020, with five opening in 2024 and others having opened this year, most recently in Dunfanaghy in north Donegal and in Newcastle West. The facility in Roscrea opened in quarter 1 of 2025. Another seven primary care centres are currently in construction, two of which should become operational before the end of this year. They are an enormous support to the community, and we want to continue to see them driven and staffed.

See this speech in context