Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson and welcome the Minister of State to the House.

Over the past 15 to 20 years, there has been speculation around Ennistymon about the provision of a primary healthcare centre.

Ennistymon is located in north Clare, as the Minister of State will be aware. It is near Lahinch, Doolin and other areas where the population balloons when the summer comes. For four or five months of the year, the population in north Clare would be akin to that of a suburban part of Dublin.

Ennis has a primary healthcare centre and there is a second one on the way. There is one being built in east Clare but, really and truly, one is needed in north Clare.

I understand the site has been identified for a primary healthcare centre and what I would like to know from the Minister of State is when it is proposed to move this particular project to design and planning and when can the people of Ennistymon and the surrounding areas expect to have a primary healthcare centre.

The primary healthcare centres that are being built around the country are fantastic. We have a major problem in the mid-west with the emergency department in Limerick hospital. The more primary healthcare centres we have in our area the better. North Clare is a large geographical area. A primary healthcare centre is needed as quickly as possible.

What I hope the Minister of State will be able to do today is give us a timeline as to when can we expect the planning application and the design, when we can expect it to go to tender and when we can expect that a primary healthcare centre will be available for the people in north Clare.