Healthcare Policy
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-05
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Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG), Dún Laoghaire

I was just reflecting on how Birr primary care centre has evolved since we saw it last summer. I am looking forward to visiting it in quarter 3 of 2026 when it will be operational to see how magnificent it is. For anyone who has not seen it, it is absolutely huge. It will be an enormous addition to primary care for the people of Offaly generally. Of course, it will have extensive GP practices and a pharmacy. It will also provide space for a National Ambulance Service base. It is extraordinary and it will add enormously. Indeed, I hope it will take some pressure off the hospital as well.
It is true that more elective capacity is necessary. While we are not considering a surgical hub model as such – we have enough work to do to get Sligo and Letterkenny ahead – that does not mean there are not different ways of achieving additional elective capacity. When I say we are open to suggestion in this regard, we really are. That is why we have insisted on this expression of interest process to determine what more can be done to deliver that elective capacity in an even stronger way, recognising the already excellent work done by the triangle of good hospitals.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-05/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-05