Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise the issue of the Glenties primary care centre. I raised this issue quite recently with the Minister in the House, given the concern that has been expressed locally about the lack of development in the provision of the Glenties primary care centre. The current facilities available include a GP surgery which could be described as cramped, out-dated and in very poor condition. It is in need of upgrading or a new facility. The local community and the Glenties parish council deserve credit for the work they are doing to progress the issue. In the past two weeks there has been a number of meetings to discuss this issue. The local parish council and the local community are more than anxious to see some development of this project.

I raised the issue on 4 March 2010 and I was advised at the time that while the HSE capital programme for the period 2010-14 was not finalised or approved, the project would be taken into consideration. This was a bland response but it outlined the project was still somewhere on the radar.

I am very disappointed with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children with regard to this project. I am deeply disappointed at the lack of progress at a national level. In qualifying that comment, I recognise the significant contribution of the HSE team in County Donegal, led by John Hayes. The team has taken this project as far as they can bring it, in other words, tenders are now being sought.

The project is of critical importance to the Glenties area and would provide facilities for the local GP, the public health nurse, the community welfare services, the community physiotherapy services, social work services, occupational therapy services, dietician services, learning disability services, minor injuries clinic, the mental health services, physical and sensory disability services, psychology services and many other additional services.

The site has been secured from the St. Columba trust, at a knock down price of €59,000. The HSE paid the money to the local parish and recognition must be given to the local community for providing the site at a mere €59,000 as it is worth many multiples of that figure.

Planning permission has been secured for the project from Donegal County Council. The building is to be designed as a single storey composition. It will facilitate the integration of primary care services and individual local public health services. Even though I raised this issue quite recently I raise it again to keep it on the agenda. I am of the firm view that the HSE at national level is letting down the people of Glenties and the surrounding areas by not progressing this project to tender. While there has been a number of false starts this can be forgotten on the basis that the project could go to tender. All the preparatory work has been done locally. The project has been given stage five approval. The next stage would be to go to tender. In the current climate of value for money, many projects are receiving lower tenders. This project should be allowed go to tender. Given that value for money could be obtained, it is a win-win situation for the HSE and the Department and it is a win-win for the local community which has been waiting for the new facility for a long number of years. The site is there, planning permission is available and we need the approval to go to tender.

While the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, does not have responsibility for that Department, I hope we can see some form of progress this evening on this issue.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. At the outset, I reaffirm the Government's commitment to developing primary care services at local level. In line with the Government's policy document, Primary Care, A New Direction,the Health Service Executive is refocusing its services to give people direct access in the community to multidisciplinary teams, including general practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, home helps, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. This policy is designed to maintain people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, decrease hospital attendances and facilitate early hospital discharge and supported care at home. The HSE plans to have 530 primary care teams and 134 health and social care networks developed by 2011. Additional funding of €52 million has been provided since 2002 for the development of primary care teams. At the end of March 2010, there were 236 teams holding clinical team meetings on individual client cases and involving GPs and HSE staff. In addition, a further 21 teams are holding clinical team meetings without GP participation. A total of 3,414 staff have been assigned to teams. Some 875 GPs are involved in the operation or development of teams. As well as reassigning staff from primary, community and continuing care services to work in primary care teams, the HSE also intends to redeploy a significant number of staff from acute hospitals and corporate functions into the community.

With regard to the development of a primary care centre in Glenties, the HSE has submitted its draft capital plan which sets out its capital investment proposals over the period 2010-14. Consultations are ongoing between the Department of Health and Children, the HSE and the Department of Finance. Details of the developments included in the plan will be published following its approval. I hope the Senator will appreciate that the plan cannot be announced until it is approved. However, his intervention this evening is timely.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I appreciate he is not in the Department of Health and Children. However, I must put it on the record of the House that I am very disappointed at the Department's response on this issue. The lack of progress is annoying, to say the least. This is exactly the same response I received when I raised the issue on 4 March and it does not come close to meeting the mark from my point of view unless the Department comes forward with some form of a substantive response. I have been liaising with HSE officials on this issue since Christmas. Obviously we must wait for the plan to be approved but the local community deserves to see some form of urgency with regard to this issue. I am disappointed with the response of the Minister for Health and Children and her Department. I will be working with the local community to bring about the required response. A local community which lacks these facilities should not have to wait until a fatality occurs due to the lack of services. This is no reflection on Deputy Haughey as he has other responsibilities but I am disappointed with the response.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will convey the Senator's view to the Minister for Health and Children.