Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a very important issue and these are very important developments in the area. On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The primary care centres provide important primary care infrastructure and can support the delivery of integrated care by facilitating closer co-ordination and co-operation between health professionals across different disciplines. They also provide a single point of access to services for the individual and can serve as a resource more broadly for the community, creating a focal point for local health initiatives or providing community groups with a place to meet.

It is for this reason the development of primary care centres is an important part of Sláintecare. As part of the continued Government investment in the development of primary and community care, there are now 174 primary care centres operational nationally, of which 45 became operational since the beginning of 2020. A further seven centres are in construction and many more are at an earlier stage in the development process.

The three primary care centres in Longford - Ballymahon, Granard and Edgeworthstown - are all at early stages of development. The HSE continues to engage with these projects to progress through the stages of the operational lease model or by capital funding submissions.

This Government remains committed to the continued progression of the primary care centre programme throughout the country, including planned primary care centre development in Longford. I recently attended the opening of a primary care centre in Ballincollig in my constituency. It has a population of about 25,000, and now three GP practices have moved in there. We also have psychiatric and physiotherapy services. We even have transferred part of the ophthalmology service out of Cork University Hospital. This service is now out in the community and is serving a population of 72,000, so they are very important. I take on board the Senator's comments and will convey them to the Minister.