Start-up activities began on the new Primary Care Centres in Waterford city and Dungarvan this week.
Commencement notices for the sites at St Otteran’s in the city and Dungarvan Community Hospital have been issued, with remedial and structural works on the 100-year-old listed brick chimney already taking place to allow for the development.
The European Investment Bank has confirmed its decision to invest €70 million in fourteen new primary care centres across the country, according to Minister of State John Halligan.
Funding for the buildings will also be provided by Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFG (BTMU) and Talanx, a German based insurance company, through a Public Private Partnership.
“This is the EIB’s first ever capital investment in Irish health facilities and the Primary Care Centre PPP project is one of the first projects to be financed under the European Fund for Strategic Investment Initiative, established to support investment across Europe”, Minister Halligan noted.
“The Waterford City Care Centre, on the grounds of St Otteran’s Hospital, is actually the largest of all 14 centres being constructed across the country. Enabling works on the grounds of St Otteran’s, including remedial and structural works to the 100-year-old listed brick chimney, have already taken place to allow for the development.”
Minister Halligan added: “These new centres will be a wonderful addition to both Waterford city and Dungarvan and will allow local people to access, in their local community, a wide range of services including GP, community nursing, dental, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, speech and language therapy, mental health, counselling, home help and nutrition.
“The Centres will be open at least five days a week, with extra hours at weekends and evenings for some services.”
