Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith, has expressed his disappointment with the lack of progress in relation to the provision of a new purpose-built Primary Care Centre in Ballyjamesduff.

Deputy Smith had tabled Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann to the Minister for Health seeking the up-to-date position in relation to the proposed new health facility.

The HSE replied as follows:

“Following public advertisements in 2007/08 an Agreement for Lease was entered into with the preferred provider identified, with a view to the procurement of a purpose built primary care centre through the Operational Lease Mechanism.  The provider in question proved unable to deliver the facility, and the Agreement for Lease was terminated in due course.

This location was included by the Health Service Executive in a further advertisement in 2014 seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in providing this accommodation under the lease mechanism, but no qualifying submissions were received.  It is intended to now to examine the possibility of progression by way of direct provision.  This would require capital funding and would be subject to the availability of funding within the HSE’s Capital plan”.

Deputy Smith told  Northern Sound that the provision of a new Primary Care Centre in Ballyjamesduff is a long way off as the HSE only now are going to examine the possibility of providing such a facility by way of direct provision.  He added that the development of a number of Primary Care Centres throughout County Cavan in the last 15 years had proved very successful and with a growing population in Ballyjamesduff there is a need for a modern Health Facility in the town to service a wide catchment area.

The Fianna Fáil Deputy added that this project needs to be advanced without further delay as the previous Government in 2008 approved the provision of such a facility which has the potential to enhance the delivery of health services to the Ballyjamesduff area.

ENDS