HSE VOWS TO PROGRESS PORTUMNA PRIMARY CARE CENTRE

Date Published: 03-Oct-2012

The HSE is endeavouring to progress a primary care centre for Portumna as soon as possible.The matter was raised in the Seanad this week by Labour Senator Lorraine Higgins who said that the facility was identified on a priority list under the previous government but was not progressed.The Portumna project does not currently feature on a nationwide list of 35 locations of which 20 such centres are to be developed.Speaking in the upper house, Senator Higgins sought a committment that provision will be made for the centre in future capital budgets.Speaking on behalf of Health Minister James Reilly, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the provision of a primary care centre in Portumna has been progressed to date by way of a private sector operational lease process.Under this arrangement, the project design was advanced in 2010 to 2011 after an alternative site was deemed acceptable to the HSE.Minister Quinn says a number of discussions have recently now concluded and confirmation on the development should be known soon.