Vol. 266 Wednesday, No. 8 26 June 2019 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 26/06/2019A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 418 26/06/2019A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 418 26/06/2019A00350Primary Care Centres Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 418 26/06/2019B00400Vacant Properties � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 421 26/06/2019G00100An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 424 26/06/2019O03700Criminal Justice (Judicial Discretion) (Amendment) Bill 2019: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 440 26/06/2019O04500Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Probation Judgments and Decisions) Bill 2018: Committee and Re- maining Stages� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 440 26/06/2019P00600Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 441 26/06/2019R01100Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 449 26/06/2019FF00100Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 455 26/06/2019JJ00100Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 458 26/06/2019NN00950Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 465 26/06/2019VV00050Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 466 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 26 Meitheamh 2019 Wednesday, 26 June 2019 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 26/06/2019A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 26/06/2019A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the provision of a primary care centre in Douglas, Cork� I have also received notice from Senator Michelle Mulherin of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to make a state- ment on the progress by Mayo County Council in implementing Government schemes to bring vacant homes back into use� I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to make a state- ment on the powers of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission that may be contrary to city or county development plans� Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Butt- imer and Mulherin and they will be taken now� I regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Boyhan on the ground that it requires the Minister to provide an interpretation of the law� 26/06/2019A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 26/06/2019A00350Primary Care Centres Provision 418 26 June 2019 26/06/2019A00400Senator Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and thank him for his courtesy in attending the House� The issue before us is a very important one concerning the provision of a primary care centre in Douglas� Given the importance we, as a Government, place on primary care in our health policy, I hope the Government will prioritise the location of a primary care centre in Douglas� There are many suitable locations in this area and the suc- cess of other such centres, such as in Carrigaline and in other parts of the city, underscores the importance and need for a primary care centre in Douglas. We have had a number of briefings with the HSE, which highlighted its role in primary care� It is an opportune time to deliver a primary care centre in Douglas with, I might add, a daycare centre for the elderly, but that is a different matter� A national needs assessment was conducted and identified the need for primary care centres in many parts of the city but, in particular, Bishopstown, Togher and Douglas� I hope that today we will get a clear indication from the HSE and the Government that this matter is a priority and that this will be the beginning of the journey to having a primary care centre located in Douglas� As the Minister of State, the Cathaoirleach, Members of the House and those watch- ing the proceedings at home know, we are now living in an expanded Cork city council area, and Douglas has become part of Cork city� This is, therefore, an opportune time to promote the establishment of a primary care centre in Douglas� Douglas is a centre of population which is crying out for the location of a primary care centre� Confusion surrounds the plans and propos- als for the primary care centre but we now have an opportunity to bring clarity and certainty and to remove the confusion around the primary care centre� I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, for being here and I commend him on the work he is doing in his brief� He is a very progressive and proactive Minister of State� I hope that today we will see the beginning of a new chapter and a good news story for Douglas� 26/06/2019A00500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): I thank Senator Buttimer for his kind words� As the Senator may be aware, the HSE has responsibility for the provision of primary care centres and other primary care facilities� I am happy to update Sena- tor Buttimer on work being undertaken on the potential provision of a primary care centre in Douglas� I understand previous efforts by the HSE to secure a primary care centre in the area have proved unsuccessful because of the high cost of suitable sites for developers� However, I am pleased to be able to advise the Senator that Douglas has been included in a recent advertise- ment by the HSE seeking expressions of interest from developers for the next tranche of 47 centres to be delivered under the operational lease model� This advertisement was published on 3 May and interested parties had up to the 31 May to make submissions� I understand that all bids have now been submitted to HSE estates centrally and that they are currently being com- piled. The bids will issue shortly from estates central office for local assessment by the relevant estates offices in conjunction with local primary care staff. There are a number of distinct phases to be gone through under the operational lease model before a centre can be delivered� After the HSE selects the preferred bidder based on submis- sions received, a letter of intent issues to that bidder who must then satisfy a number of require- ments� Among other things, the bidder must enter into an agreement with GPs to co-locate at the site; provide evidence of ownership or interest in the site; obtain planning permission; and 419 Seanad Éireann provide evidence that financing for the development is in place. Once these conditions have been satisfied, the HSE signs an agreement for lease with the relevant developer. The HSE will lease the accommodation for the facility which is built to the HSE’s specification. In the case of Douglas, subject to bids to an acceptable level being submitted, the HSE will issue a letter of intent and the process I have just outlined will begin� However, it is important to note that issues can arise during this process, and there is a risk that delivery of a given centre may not be able to proceed for any one of a number of reasons - for example, where planning may be refused or where GPs do not indicate an interest in co-locating� The HSE has informed me that all other options for developing a primary care centre in Douglas have been explored but that, regrettably, nothing suitable has been identified and the recent advertisement for expressions of interest is the best way forward� I am advised that, with the exception of community nurses and the home support office, there is no accommoda- tion for other community services in Douglas and that clients must travel to Cork city centre or the nearby Blackrock Hall primary care centre� As a result, the case for developing a centre in Douglas is clear and fully accepted� It would serve a population of approximately 20,000 peo- ple and offer services at a single site� This means that people would no longer have to travel to different places for different services, which would save considerable time and expense� Such a centre would undoubtedly enhance and expand capacity in the community sector in Douglas, enabling us to deliver high-quality, integrated care to people in the locality and on the vision for a reformed health service set out under Sláintecare, namely, “the right care, in the right place, at the right time”� It is for these reasons that I very much hope that the recent expression of inter- est for Douglas will generate