Swords primary care centre
Deputy Smith says population growth in Swords and Fingal has left the area reliant on Beaumont Hospital and jeopardised the promised primary care centre. The Taoiseach agrees the centre is needed and will seek an update from the Health Minister.
In 1987, when Beaumont Hospital was founded, the population of Fingal was approximately 140,000. It is now 330,000 and is expected to grow to 400,000 by 2030, yet we are still fully reliant on Beaumont Hospital. Last week, in the town of Swords where I live, we found out that the long-overdue HSE primary care centre is now in doubt because the developer says it cannot be delivered at the agreed price. As a former Minister for Health, the Taoiseach knows how important a primary care centre is. Swords is the largest town in Ireland without a primary care centre and the pressure on Beaumont Hospital is unsustainable. Can the Taoiseach please give some comfort to the people of Swords and south Fingal that they will be able to avail of a primary care centre in their town as soon as possible?
Comment on this
I can. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I fully agree with him. I am aware of the size of Swords and the population expansion being seen there. I am of the view that if there are challenges in the delivery of any such primary care centres, we will have to come up with alternative ways of progressing them. I accept the need for the people of Swords and south Fingal to have that primary care centre. I will ask for a direct update from the Minister for Health.