Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to come back to the Senator to give him specific clarification as I am taking this question on his behalf. On behalf of the Minister, I again thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Minister understands how vital these developments are for local communities across the country. With regard to the vacant clinic building, as mentioned, the Department of Health and the HSE are committed to supporting the work being done to address the urgent need for properties. At the present time, no decision has been communicated to the Department of Health in respect of the use of Camolin health centre.

Investment in primary care services and facilities is an important part of the Sláintecare vision and the development of primary care centres remains a strategic priority for the Government. These facilities provide a single point of access to health services and offer a means of supporting people to live independently in their own communities for as long as possible. Significant progress continues to be made in the development and roll-out of primary care centres and 160 are now fully operational. Thirteen of these have opened this year alone and a further 19 are at various stages of the construction and equipping process, with five of these scheduled to become operational before the end of the year.

The Senator will, I am sure, be aware that Wexford has benefited and will continue to benefit from the Government's investment in primary care. Further to the new primary care centre for Gorey that we have been discussing today, a centre in New Ross is also in the early stages of planning. This is in addition to the four Wexford primary care centres already operational, including a new primary care centre in Enniscorthy which opened this year. I am sure we can all agree that these purpose-built facilities have a key role to play in supporting the health of local communities and in transforming the way we deliver healthcare in Ireland.