Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I raise the very serious issue of the provision of a new health centre in Keadue, Boyle, County Roscommon. I speak on behalf of people in the area who want to establish a new health centre in Keadue. The premises from which the health centre currently operates is in a very poor state of repair and is inadequate to provide the full service to the outpatient population base. The area has grown extensively in recent years and a health centre that can deliver the various practices in an area is essential.

The centre urgently needs to employ a practice nurse. It is trying to run specialist asthma and diabetic clinics from a room measuring 5 ft. by 11 ft. It is the only spare room the centre has in the premises and at peak times there is a need to have an extra room. Unfortunately, because there is no extra room, the public health nurse is unable to attend and, in addition, the psychiatric service was withdrawn. The public health nurse cannot hold development clinics for children. We would very much appreciate funding or even a timeframe for the allocation of funding to ensure this problem will be rectified and a new health centre provided in Keadue, Boyle, County Roscommon.

Keadue is equidistant from Carrick-on-Shannon, Drumshanbo and Boyle. It is in the parish of Kilronan, which includes Arigna and Ballyfarnon. It is a growing area and I hope the Minister has a positive reply to ensure the issue of this health centre would be dealt with.