Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed new primary care centre for Graiguenamanagh; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52193/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Primary care centres add huge value to communities across the country, including my own in Carlow-Kilkenny. There is a lot of excitement in my home town of Graiguenamanagh about our new proposed primary care centre. I would like an update on how that is progressing.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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That is most welcome news. I understand the new centre is planned to be a two-storey facility of approximately 20,000 sq. m, with accommodation for GP practices and community nursing, as well as dental services and therapies. However, the key thing about this primary care centre is its rural location, and the accessibility challenges a lot of people where I am from have in getting access to top-class care. Towns and villages like Skeaghvasteen, The Rower, St. Mullins and Borris will be able to feed into this brand-new primary care centre in Graiguenamanagh. It will be a game changer for the region. It is certainly a game changer for my town. While I know it is in its infancy, I have a concern about when the primary care centre is complete, in terms of getting bodies and roles to work in that centre.

There is a challenge in the HSE. I know the funding is there, but getting people to fill a lot of these roles can be a challenge. I want to get the Minister's assurance that she will do everything she can for Graiguenamanagh to ensure that once this facility is complete, those roles will be filled.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. I know from my experience of dealing with other primary care centres around the constituency that there is a really strong, enhanced community and patient experience at such centres. Patients can build long-term relationships with their providers, which can lead to better communication and more personalised care, which is really promising. I am really excited about the various strands of care that are going to be available in my home town. It is absolutely a game-changer and something that is long overdue, and it is going to be a fantastic asset to the town. I seek assurances from the Minister that she will look favourably on two other health centres, in Freshford and Ballyhale, which are in the capital plan and are in the process of being upgraded. While the Graiguenamanagh centre will serve one part of the constituency, facilities in the likes of Ballyhale and Freshford also serve huge pockets of the constituency. I seek assurances from the Minister that they will be dealt with favourably.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. Clearly, we are trying to have a network serving counties Kilkenny and Carlow, and we need the staff. The vacancies are there. We are desperately trying to recruit and make sure the complete suite of services is there for the people of the county.