Construction work has been completed on two new primary care centres on the northside of Dublin.

The centres have officially opened in Kilcock, Kildare and Coolock.

Health Minister Simon Harris said: "These two new centres are the latest in a planned national network of primary care centres, which are being developed to provide a broad range of health services to local communities. 114 Primary Care Centres are now operational across the country. 6 have opened so far this year (Ballinrobe, Boyle, Limerick City, Kilcock, Claremorris and Grangegorman) and a further 13 are scheduled to open in 2018.

“Kilcock and Coolock are part of the first public private partnership programme in the Health services, which will see a total of 14 purpose-built centres delivered across the country by the end of this year. The centres will also offer a range of primary care services including GP and Nurse services, Home Help, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Psychology.

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"Investment in Primary Care is key to building a better health service. We need to ensure that more people are treated close to home, in the communities where they live. That is why Project Ireland 2040, our capital spending plan for the next 10 years, provides €810 million to construct additional primary care facilities, including community diagnostics. Significant investment in primary care is a key component of our solid, ambitious plan to build a better health service for the future. This must be done through the combination of this significant capital investment programme, alongside the implementation of the Sláintecare reforms, and engagement with GPs on the unwinding of FEMPI and a new GP contract.

"The primary care funding provided in Ireland 2040 will be in addition to funding to continue the existing Primary Care Centre construction programme across the country, including the Public Private Partnership programme."

(CD)