Donabate / Portrane Labour Party Local Area Representative Corina Johnston said; ”over the last few years Duncan Smith TD and I as well as other public representatives have been campaigning for a much needed Primary Care Centre in Donabate.

In April this year the HSE confirmed to us that following a tender process a preferred operator and site had been selected and approval to proceed was being sought. In July this year the HSE confirmed that approval to proceed would be sought from the outstanding stakeholders once all recommendations to proceed were received.

Duncan and I are appalled to have received an update from the HSE to our recent representations confirming that a U TURN has taken place and this much needed facility will NOT be going ahead “as value for money for public funds has not been demonstrated.”

”We believe the purpose of Primary Care Centres is to provide accessible, integrated Health and Social Care Services in the community with a focus on early intervention and community based treatment, to support vulnerable groups and reduce hospital pressure.

It is totally unacceptable that Donabate with the population to grow to 20,000 in the next few years will now not have a Primary Care Centre to provide much needed care services. The people of Donabate have been let down again and again with broken promises by this government on the provision of much needed facilities and basic infrastructure. While welcoming the provision of a Primary Care Centre in Swords this will not cater for the needs of the growing Donabate community. “

Johnston concluded; ”Duncan and I intend to raise this matter with the Minister for Health and arising from which we will be arranging an early public meeting in the New Year to discuss this and other infrastructural issues. It is important the people of Donabate make a stand on these issues.”