Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for the work she has done with nursing homes in her portfolio of older people. It is such a relief for people at the moment to be able to visit friends and neighbours in nursing homes. I know that from my own experience. I thank the Minister of State and all the people working in that sector.

My question relates to the proposed primary care centre in Fethard, County Tipperary. Fethard has been identified by the HSE as the preferred location for the development of a primary care centre. A site directly adjacent to Fethard town park has been scoped and approved by the proposed primary care centre developer. This development is greatly welcomed as it will allow for increased economies of scale and the creation of a co-located campus with mutual health and well-being benefits for all. However, there seems to be a lack of progress lately. The HSE has been quite slow in progressing primary care centres in the south east, which includes Fethard. I understand that all works have been slowed and bogged down because of Covid but can the Minister of State give assurances that this is still a priority for the Department, and for her in particular? Primary care centres play a vital role in rural areas and towns. Fethard is a prime example of an area and hinterland that would benefit greatly from having a primary care centre. The Minister of State is based not far from the area, so she knows Fethard is a small town with a population of approximately 1,500, with a good hinterland. Successful work has been done on a range of issues in the town. A primary school has been extended to add two new classrooms, the secondary school has a large extension of 14 new rooms, so we now have almost a new school beside the existing one, and funding of €2.6 million was secured from the rural regeneration fund for Fethard town park. All of these developments are in the same part of the town. It is in a perfect area, which incorporates education, well-being and sport. The jewel in the crown, the development that would finish the whole project, is the primary care centre.

There is so much work going on in Fethard. I do not know of any other area, in County Tipperary or beyond, where so many community groups have been involved in the projects. They include Holy Trinity National School, the town's secondary school and community playschool, Fethard GAA and rugby clubs, the scout group and the community council. Some 27 groups have come together to work with Tipperary County Council, the Cashel and Emly diocese and Coolmore to build a centre of excellence for well-being, sport, community and education and everything is progressing nicely.

We have had some difficult number for building and progressing projects, which is of course understandable. However, things are starting to move now on the 23-acre site, which includes the secondary school, primary school and town park. As such, some information on progress for the primary care centre would be the icing on the cake for a fantastic community of people who give back an awful lot to their area and, most important, work together for the benefit of the region. Any indication the Minister of State could give in this regard would be greatly appreciated.