by Alan Jacques
LIMERICK is to benefit from the European Investment Bank’s decision to invest €70 million in 14 Irish primary care centres with the announcement of a new facility at Lord Edward Street in the city centre.
Work on the centre is due to start next January and it is hoped that construction work will be completed within a 12 month timeframe. The centre will be open at least five days a week with extra hours at weekends and evenings for some services.
Services at the Limerick centre will include GPs, community nursing, dental, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, speech and language, home help, mental health, counselling and nutrition.
Labour Party councillor for City East, Elena Secas, has welcomed the announcement.
“The new primary care centre in Limerick City will enhance local health services and bring the benefits of such health care delivery closer to communities,” she said.
The Limerick announcement was made last week by Minister for Primary and Social Care, Kathleen Lynch as part of a €70 million investment in 14 new primary care centres across the country. The Primary Care Centre PPP project is one of the first projects to be financed under the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) initiative established to support investment across Europe.
“The experience of primary care centres in the rest of the country has been hugely beneficial to communities and the Limerick City project is a further step towards delivering the right care where it matters most,” Cllr Secas added.
