Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting to hear Senator Cullinane raising the issue of primary care centres. Last week, I raised the issue of a primary care centre in Cork where it was agreed in 2004 that it would be built. Here we are seven years later and it is still not open. The HSE cannot give a date for when it will be opened, yet it paid ¤956,000 for it. It was built four years ago and has been vacant since. Perhaps we should look at what was already built before we look at new sites being identified. In fairness to the Minister, he identified two new centres but if we look at the time for this centre, they will not be built for seven years going by the current rate of progress.

I wish to raise the issue of care of the elderly and nursing homes. I remind my colleague on the Opposition side of the House that ¤485 million was wasted when it had to be paid back to people in nursing homes because of the previous Government's failure to put in place proper legislation.