Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for coming to the House to address an issue which is of great concern to people in Portumna, County Galway, and surrounding areas. People in the town have been left without public health services since November 2012 as a consequence of a rat infestation in the health centre building. This matter was brought to my attention at the time by concerned residents and I asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the claims. The HSE responded immediately to inform me that steps were being taken to rectify the problem without delay. I was assured that two surveys had been undertaken by a pest control company with the results showing that there was no rat activity in the health centre itself. I was told, however, that the surveys did show some evidence of rat activity externally. I understand the extermination company took all the necessary pest control measures at the time.

Staff and all services at Portumna were moved to Woodford health centre while the pest control company conducted further investigations into the centre in Portumna. Clinical services which could not be undertaken at home were temporarily suspended, with an undertaking that they would resume once the health centre reopened. I understand the staff were asked to return to Portumna in February 2013. They objected to doing so given that floorboards which were removed from the property in the course of the investigation had revealed a nest of rats. Nobody could blame them for refusing to work in such conditions, which represent a very significant health and safety issue not only to employees but also to service users.

The Portumna centre remains closed and residents continue to be deprived of the types of health services that are available in every town and village in Ireland. There are reports that some public health nurses are working out of their cars. Baby developmental checks, speech and language therapy and care of the elderly services are all being carried out at other health centre locations such as Woodford and elsewhere in east Galway. The situation is entirely unsatisfactory. Such is the depth of feeling on the issue the locals are planning to submit a petition to the HSE. This issue has been going on for far too long.

Portumna, a town with a good-sized population and significant numbers living in the hinterland, has suffered greatly in recent times. The burning down of the Shannon Oaks Hotel, for example, has led to significant job losses, as did the closure of ancillary businesses dependent on the hotel. In addition, AIB has closed its branch in the town. I implore the Department of Health to take action. People in Portumna feel justifiably aggrieved at what essentially amounts to a downgrading of all local health services. The HSE seems to have forgotten about them, some eight months after the problem of rat infestation at the health centre first emerged. Action must be taken without delay.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. I welcome the opportunity to address the plans for the provision of primary care services in Portumna, County Galway, and in the wider context. Portumna health centre is the main centre for the Portumna primary care team, which is situated in south-east Galway. The team provides services to a population of 6,513 people. There are several outlying smaller health centres in the area, including Woodford, Gurteen, Derrybrien and Tynagh. Woodford health centre provides a full-time service, with the other locations providing storage facilities to support clinical services.

The health centre in Portumna is located on the outskirts of the town, close to the former workhouse and farm land. The original building was built approximately 50 years ago and has telephone and fax facilities. It has been closed since the end of 2012 following the discovery of rodent activity outside the centre. The risk of such infestations are increased because of the location of the centre. Owing to concerns raised, an extermination company was contracted and all areas treated. The company has since confirmed in regular checks that the centre is now free from rodents.

Health Service Executive local management is in discussions with staff regarding the delivery of services from the health centre. As the risk of rodent activity in the surrounding area continues, the HSE has examined all State assets locally to see whether a more suitable premises is available for utilisation us a health centre. Unfortunately, no suitable location has been identified.

The following services continue to be delivered to people within the Portumna area: public health nursing; physiotherapy, occupational therapy; speech and language therapy; social work; home help; and cardiac specialist services. For the present, these services are provided from various suitable locations, with the public health nursing service being provided on a similar basis. Local GPs operate from their own premises in the town.

The long-term accommodation needs for this area have been identified. This area was advertised under the national primary care infrastructure programme, a suitable project was identified and a letter of intent was issued in 2009. This is being reviewed at present, with a view to providing a modern purpose built health centre for the area. The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system. The HSE recognises that the Government's health reform programme places a new emphasis on developing the role of primary care within a universal health care system and as a consequence, progress in delivering the necessary infrastructure is a priority.

The development of primary care centres, through a combination of public and private investment will facilitate the delivery of multidisciplinary primary care and represent a tangible refocusing of the health service to deliver care in the most appropriate and lowest cost setting. The primary care infrastructure model offers a good fit for private sector delivery. The HSE is progressing the delivery of primary care infrastructure using three mechanisms, namely, HSE direct-build, operational leases, and public private partnerships. Regardless of the method of delivery, locations cannot be progressed unless there is committed GP engagement. Between May 2011 and May 2013, some 27 primary care centres opened. This ongoing development of primary care centres continues to be an extremely important element of the Government's health reform process.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. However, I am most dissatisfied with it. There is a pressing need right now to provide health care services within Portumna and its surrounding area. As the Minister of State mentioned, some 6,500 people want to avail of these services and it is not good enough to think that they are being ignored. What will the people of Portumna and the surrounding area do until such time as a primary medical care centre is built? The sense of abandonment of the people of Portumna is quite clear and the Minister and the Department of Health need to do something in the interim until the primary medical care centre is built. There is no point in looking to the future when 6,500 people are looking for these services on a daily basis. The issue is far more pressing than the Department realises. I implore the Minister of State and the Minister to do something now on the issue.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The good news is that a location for a new primary care facility has been identified. Obviously, the buy-in to that from local GPs is important. I reiterate that the HSE has examined all State assets locally. I suggest the Senator should conduct a due diligence process in Portumna to see if a more suitable premises is available for utilisation as a health centre. I would be astonished if there was not a suitable location in Portumna that would meet the needs of the HSE. Therefore, I suggest that the Senator engages actively on the ground to see if she can recommend a suitable location and forward that to the Minister. The Department is looking for a location, but no suitable location has yet been identified. That astonishes me.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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No more than the Minister of State, I am in the business of finding solutions. Unfortunately, this is a long-term solution to a short-term problem. Something needs to be done and more urgently than kicking the ball down the road until such time as a primary medical care centre is built or until such time as GPs come on board.

My door is open at any time to facilitate and help people in Portumna to ensure the project comes to fruition. However, what are the people going to do in the meantime? The Department needs to get real on this issue and do something quickly. This is about exterminating rats and ensuring the facility is good enough to be used by people from the Portumna area. Therefore, I implore the Minister of State again to pass the message on to the Minister and inform him something needs to be done urgently.

It is wonderful a primary medical care centre will be made available -----

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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We cannot get into a debate on the matter. This is a matter on the Adjournment and the Senator has made her contribution.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I suggest again that there is huge community involvement in Portumna and that this is a huge community regeneration project. The Minister is prepared to facilitate the location of the facility in a suitable property. With the amount of property that is now vacant in Portumna, I am certain there must be some location the Senator could suggest to the Minister on which agreement could be got from the HSE locally as a suitable location. The Senator should nominate a suitable location.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I am aware the Minister is in talks with a private company in that regard. However, what I need is a short-term solution for the people of Portumna. I am not looking at a situation two or three years down the road. I want to represent the people to the best of my ability.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State will bring the Senator's message to the Minister.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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We cannot get something more short-term than that. The Senator and the people of Portumna should come up with a location and inform the Minister.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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A location has already been identified, but the problem is it is on a long-term basis.