Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, to the House. As long ago as 2018, the probability of the Drimnagh primary care centre was being mooted and referenced in published articles. In December 2019, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, and Minister of State, Catherine Byrne, announced the primary care centre for Drimnagh on the site of the Mother McAuley Centre and they projected a timeline of final design in 2020, with construction to commence in 2021. I accept that in the meantime all of our lives and everything about us was hijacked by Covid. However, primary care centre is overdue for the community of Drimnagh. They welcomed that it was to be located locally and that they would have a focus and place to go to where all of their healthcare needs could be met. The demand for this centre still exists. The population of Drimnagh is large. As I speak, there are hundreds of apartments under construction in the Drimnagh area, with many more in the planning process, all of which will increase that population. Any delay to the provision of the primary care centre will have a major impact on their lives. A primary care centre is part of the necessary and integral provision of services, infrastructure and supports within any community.

The facilities that were promised for the Mother McAuley Centre were to be located on the site of the demolished HSE health centre. The proposal includes a rebuild of the Alzheimer's unit, a community centre and crèche and the construction of a state-of-the-art primary care centre. Last week, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, brought us up to date on the significant strides forward in dealing with the long waiting lists in the provision of care to children with additional and special needs. Primary care centres are necessary to her plans and the plans under the programme for Government in addressing the needs of children. If the Drimnagh primary care centre is not built, speech and language services, and services for all of the other multidisciplinary therapies that are required for children prior to going to school, will be delayed. In our major steps forward, there will be a blackspot in primary care centre provision such that children will have to move outside their areas for service provision. It is necessary that we move this project on as quickly as possible.

Shortly after my appointment this time last year, I wrote to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, seeking an update on this matter. It is a big deal and an urgent need in the Drimnagh community. I wrote to him in July and I received a reply at the end of September. The reply confirmed that the project is on the books, but it also referenced the phrase, "it is a dynamic process". I have had sleepless nights in relation to that phrase. I understand Covid, but a dynamic process indicates to me that this is going to be stretched out for some time to come. That is not okay. This is an urgent need in the here and now.

The Minister of State representing the Minister. I would appreciate an update on this matter. The people of Drimnagh desperately need to hear it.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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As this is my first time in the Chair since my re-election, I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister of State to the House on what is almost the anniversary of her appointment.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Senator Horkan and I have not been in the Seanad at the same time since his re-election. I congratulate him on re-entering the Seanad. It is fantastic to see him in the Chair. Well done.I thank Senator Seery Kearney very much for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the plans for the development of the primary care centre in Drimnagh, which is most important for the people living in the area.

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective of delivering a high quality, integrated and cost-effective healthcare system. The primary care centre programme not only continues to be a key anchor in the longer term reform of the health sector, but also aligns with the objectives of Project Ireland 2040. Primary care centres have a key role to play in delivering the vision for a reformed health service set out in Sláintecare, by facilitating the shift from acute care to primary care and supporting the provision of a range of multidisciplinary services in local communities. In this regard, it is important to note that primary care centres provide accommodation for services beyond those commonly identified as primary care, including: community mental health services; disability services, as the Senator indicated; environmental health services; accommodation for Tusla; ambulance rapid deployment points; and civil registration.

There are clear benefits in bringing healthcare professionals together to operate as a multidisciplinary team, out of a purpose-designed, well-equipped and high-quality modern facility. They can act as a single point of access for the community to healthcare services and resources, while also becoming a focal point for local health initiatives. A total of 14 primary care centres have been delivered by public private partnership. Where appropriate accommodation is not available, new primary care centres are being procured through lease agreements and through Exchequer capital funding. The majority of primary care centres will continue to be developed by means of operational leases.

Regarding the Senator's specific question, the Drimnagh primary care centre will be located on the existing site at Curlew Road. Funding has been allocated to progress the appointment of a design team, and the tender process for the services of a design team has commenced. Services to be provided include older persons day-care services alongside public health and community nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, and counselling. These services will be integrated with the proposed on-site GP service and will provide an integrated service to the public under one roof.

At present, in order to meet the primary care needs of the local area it is the intention of the HSE to use the new Armagh Road, Crumlin primary care centre and the Rialto primary care centre, both of which are operational. In addition, the Old County Road health centre and the Limekiln health centre will be retained as satellite units. To reiterate, funding has been allocated to progress the appointment of a design team, and the tender process for the services of a design team has commenced.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for her kind words and her response.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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It rhymes. That makes it easier. The Boyd Barretts and the Healy-Raes never have my problems.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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I will not compare the Senator to them.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. I am delighted that we are now on the road to the delivery of this primary care centre. I would appreciate it if she has any update on a timeline of when the people of Drimnagh can walk through the doors to go to see their GP and avail of the services which are crucial to the community there.

There are extensive changes going on in Drimnagh. A group representing all the residents' associations, which calls itself Dynamic Drimnagh, has fantastic ideas for the area. In the context of the creation of Drimnagh village we may need a complementary service to complement the primary care centre. There is probably room for discussion with the group in the near future. I am delighted with the news and any update on a timeline would be really appreciated.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Senator stated at the outset that the final design was due for 2020 with construction to commence in 2021. In fairness, she pointed to Covid and the challenges we have had. I do not have a specific timeline or dates but Senator Seery Kearney will appreciate the importance of the fact that the funding has been allocated to progress the appointment of the design team and that the tender process for the service has commenced.

The construction programme for primary care centres will continue throughout the period of the national development plan. We all know what an important role they play in communities. The HSE has been successful in developing a network of primary care centres. We now have 142 primary care centres operational throughout the country. In line with national requirements of appraisal, design, planning, tender and construction, this programme will continue into the future, including the development of a primary care centre in Drimnagh, as I have outlined.