Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, for coming to the House this morning to address this matter. I seek an update on the development of a primary care centre in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. As a person from Ballaghaderreen and as a healthcare professional, I cannot emphasise enough the need to develop this primary care centre in our town to deliver enhanced health services locally. We all know this is important from the development of primary care centres across the country where people have, rightly, been able to access quality healthcare close to where they live. The current health centre in Ballaghaderreen is not fit for purpose and the development of a modern, professional space is required to deliver services in our area. Local people should be able to access a wide range of services, including GP services, public health nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, counselling, clinical nutrition advice and mental health services under one roof in a modern, purpose-built setting.

I have been working on this issue for some time and believe strongly in the need for the development. Last October, the HSE was in the final stages of agreeing a schedule of accommodation and a floor plan for the centre. I hope the Minister of State can provide an update in this regard and that we have progressed further than the position in October. Health services locally are under huge pressure and it is important to deliver the primary care centre. However, a building is just that. We must also see increased capacity to support people who need to access our health services locally.