10. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of GP practices or primary care centres that have been introduced in north Kildare since 2020; the number due to be opened in 2026 that are known; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17744/26]

Sentiment score: 0.20

The Minister referred to her discussion earlier with Deputy Daly, which I listened to, about the need for GPs and how we roll them out. He was speaking about both the rural and urban areas in his area, but where I see a real need is in those urban centres of Leixlip and Maynooth. They are two large towns with a university on top. There are 60,000 residents and there is not a primary care centre between them. Likewise, there is a huge need for GPs. I have known of many cases where people have come into our towns and have been refused a GP because there are no places available for them. They are stuck having to use their GP in the area from which they have come, be it a rural area or Dublin. They have to keep those GPs and, realistically, that is not good enough. We have to ensure we can have more GPs. The Minister and I have discussed primary care centres being a key source of that. Indeed, Deputy Daly alluded to GPs potentially having free use of those primary care centres. Those are the sort of things we need for my constituency of Kildare North.

Sentiment score: 0.05

Often when we talk about an area like north Kildare with a population that has grown so significantly, we can talk about physical infrastructure, Uisce Éireann or the need for housing. Ultimately, however, we also need the social infrastructure, in whatever guise that comes in, be it locations for elderly people or, in this case, GP services. Social infrastructure makes a community what it is and that is what everyone needs. While I will continue to advocate for new GPs, I am conscious of the expenses associated with land and offices and the difficulties younger GPs face when setting up in the likes of Leixlip, Maynooth and other growing towns in north Kildare. As I said, north Kildare’s population has grown by 40% in the past 20 years, which is significant. We are lacking in some of those basic services. As I said, people have been turned away from GPs, unable to get places, and in some cases people who have not used a GP for a number of years, in a positive way, have received a letter telling them they are no longer members of that GP clinic and that the GP has taken them off the list just because they have not turned up, in a good way as a result of being healthy. This is a basic need. I am glad to work with the Minister to get a solution.

Sentiment score: 0.26

169. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties which have been brought back into use under the vacant property refurbishment grant in north Kildare since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17855/26]

Sentiment score: 0.15