Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1066. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the long-awaited and urgently needed primary care centre for north Clondalkin, Dublin 22; the reason for the current hold up on the centre; the date for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22110/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Health if all senior citizens are entitled to referral to primary care centres to access, for example, physiotherapy regardless of whether they have a medical card or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22117/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined primarily by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual’s eligibility status is the responsibility of the HSE.

Adults with full eligibility can access a range of services including GP services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards, including consultants’ services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants’ services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service. Persons with limited eligibility are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including Consultant services, Emergency Department or minor injury care, are subject to certain charges.

With regard to physiotherapy and other similar therapy services, there is no statutory obligation on the HSE to provide services to clients and, conversely, no legal obstacle to doing so. In practice, arrangements are generally made to provide these services to medical card holders and to persons with limited eligibility to the extent that resources allow.