Seanad debates

Thursday, 6 December 2007

10:30 am

Photo of Nicky McFaddenNicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the primary care unit in Athlone. I am disgusted and disappointed with the procrastination of the Minister for Health and Children and the HSE. This project was first mooted in the 1990s. A site was purchased in 2002 for €1.2 million and in 2006 a capital allocation of €13.7 million was made. However, there is still no primary care centre. The proposal was to progress through the planning and construction stage in April 2007 and a cost-benefit analysis was to be carried out. This has been completed and the project does represent value for money. Everybody is anxious that there is value for money in the health service.

I am not asking that the Minister come to the Seanad on this matter because she has already told me that Athlone has the best figures in Ireland for attendance at accident and emergency departments. The reason is that there is no accident and emergency department in Athlone. It does not have a primary care unit or services. I do not want the Minister to come to the Seanad and I do not need to hear a reply from her, but I ask the Leader to intervene and find out the building start date for the primary care unit in Athlone.

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