Mountrath is to get a new Primary Health Care Centre at a new location in the town.
The Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Sean Fleming, confirmed the news recently.
He said: “This is very good news for the future of Mountrath and all surrounding areas who require good primary health care facilities which cannot be fully provided in the existing limited Health Centre.
“I have been in contact with the HSE on this issue for quite some time and last year they agreed that the existing Health Centre in Mountrath should be extended and greater services provided at that location.
“However, the HSE have now come back to me to say that it is not possible to provide the full delivery of health services at the existing location because the site has restricted development potential.
“The HSE are now exploring other sites and locations in Mountrath that could accommodate a new Primary Health Centre.
“I am now calling on the HSE to progress this proposal as urgently as possible because it is accepted that improved facilities are required in Mountrath which cannot be provided at the current location.
“I asked them to invite people to put forward sites in the area that could be considered by the HSE regarding their suitability.
“Overall this is good for the future of Health Care Services in the area but until the site has been acquired a timeline cannot be provided in relation to the necessary planning, tendering and construction process.
“The Health Centre in Mountrath has always been very busy and working at full capacity and it is good that a new facility will be in place in the future.
“Finally, I will continue to keep in contact with the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure funding and all resources necessary to bring this to fruition are in place.”
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