Buttimer welcomes plans for new Primary Care Centre in Togher

Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed plans to develop a new Primary Care Centre in Togher. The announcement was made as part of a multi-billion euro stimulus package unveiled by the Government, which also includes significant investment in roads and schools across the country.

Deputy Buttimer said that the location of the new Centre is adjacent to the Deanrock Estate and that plans must now be made to develop this site.

“It will come as a great boost to the people of Cork city that a new Primary Care Centre is planned for Togher. The new centre will make a real difference to the way in which people access health care services in the community.

“Developing the network of Primary Care Centres is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. It was also a central plank of Fine Gael’s reform programme for the health service, which was developed in Opposition and is now being pursued in Government by Minister James Reilly and his colleague Minister Roisin Shorthall.

“Primary Care Centres, like the new one to be provided in Togher, will be the first point of contact for people who need to access health services in the years ahead. In a developed Primary Care system, as envisaged by the Government, up to 95% of people’s day-to-day health and social care needs can be provided in a community setting.

“The new centre will make a substantial difference to the lives of people in Togher. As well as treating illness, the centre will help those with a long-term illness to care for themselves, and it will also help to prevent serious illness by providing easily accessible community healthcare.

“The location of the new Primary Care Centre is adjacent to the Deanrock Estate which has been a development project of the Council for some time now.   I am calling on Cork City Council and the City Manager to use today’s announcement to kick-start the development of this site and to progress the plans for Deanrock Estate at the earliest opportunity.

“I look forward to the development of the new Primary Care Centre in Togher, to seeing the benefits it brings the local community and to advancing the development of the Deanrock site.”