Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I wish to discuss the provision of a primary health care centre in Mulhuddart and thank the Minister of State for attending to address the matter. We have spoken about providing such a centre for some time and people living in the area are extremely concerned at the delay in delivering it. It is a priority for the Blanchardstown RAPID team, which is supposed to deliver facilities for the area, and a faciltiy for which the Northern Area Health Board has developed plans.

Mulhuddart has been badly neglected for many years. As the Minister of State knows, it has three times the national average number of lone parents. It also has a large number of young people leaving school at an early age, 50 times the national average. The area has no general practitioner, pharmacy or dental service. It was built in the 1970s and still lacks these essential services in 2003. Therefore, there is a huge need for a primary health care centre.

It is time we recognised the lack of facilities and delivered for the people. The area has a population of approximately 2,500 which will rise to about 10,000 given the current and proposed developments to come on stream. I look forward to the response of the Minister of State which I hope will be positive.