A Laois TD has announced that the HSE is 'immediately applying' for planning permission to build a new primary care centre in Portlaoise.

Fianna Fáil Deputy Sean Fleming TD has confirmed with the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the HSE is applying immediately for planning permission on the grounds of St. Fintan’s Hospital, Dublin Road, Portlaoise.

Primary Care teams and centres were put at the centre of health service delivery in 2001 when the then Minister for Health Micheál Martin published the Primary Care Strategy. That was further reinforced in 2017 in the Sláintecare report.

In 2024, the Leinster Express reported that funding had been allocated to support the design and planning of this development, with a preliminary design approved in May 2024. It was previously expected that the HSE would seek planning permission before the end of 2024.

In the time since, there has been slight progress in the development.

In 2020, over €10 million was confirmed for the new Primary Care Centre on the Dublin Road site as part of a major expansion of local health services. It was also revealed in March 2020 that four General Practices in Portlaoise had signed up to locate in the centre on the Dublin Road.

Work began at St Fintan’s Hospital in August 2019 on phase one of a significant expansion of HSE community health services delivered in Portlaoise.

Plans were submitted to Laois County Council outlining that the work was part of an expected 'multi-phased expansion' of services on the site. Central to the project is the building of the new Primary Care Centre.

Pictured: St Fintan's Campus, Portlaoise

"This issue has been under consideration for a considerable time and it is great to see that progress is now underway," Deputy Sean Fleming shared.

"Public notices for this planning application have now been published."

The proposed development will be a 4-storey primary care centre building which will include GP surgery, dental and orthodontic surgeries, outpatient, consultant treatment rooms, physiotherapy and occupational therapy rooms, group rooms (CAMHS and day hospital), x-ray and ultrasound services, administrative offices, ancillary staff and meeting rooms, clinical and utility stores and waiting areas.

"This will require an additional new car park for 104 car parking spaces including accessible spaces and electrical vehicle charging places," Deputy Fleming said.

"There will also be 80 bicycle spaces and all other facilities such as ESB substation and linkage of the roads in St. Fintan’s Campus as part of this application.

"I look forward to this application progressing through Laois County Council as quickly as possible because it is a much-needed service in the town of approximately 30,000 people. Approval of planning permission will then give certainty in relation to the timescale of when the project can go to tender and construction.

"Portlaoise is a growing town in a growing county and this new Primary Care Centre  will be a great addition to health services locally. 

"I look forward to this proceeding and improved health services in Portlaoise being made available as soon as is practicable," the Deputy finished.

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