€115m to boost health network

Some €115m will be invested in up to 20 new primary care centres.

The centres will be built in two “bundles” of up to 10 apiece. The procurement process will start by the end of this year, and construction will start in 2014.

Each bundle will be built through public-private partnerships, whereby the State, rather than forking out the entire cost of construction upfront, pays an agreed sum each year to a private contractor to build and maintain the facilities.