Thomas Gould
Question:22. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if a value-for-money assessment has been undertaken on the leasing of primary care centres in Cork. [3473/26]
View answerThursday, 22 January 2026
Questions (22)
Written answers
The Primary Care Centre (PCC) Programme is a fundamental element in the delivery of reform of the health sector. Opening of more primary care centres is a goal of the Programme for Government.
The HSE is delivering PCCs via different mechanisms of (1) the operational lease model (2) HSE direct build.
The majority of Primary Care Centres to date have been delivered through the Operational Lease model.
Value for money assessments, in line with requirements of public financial procedures and relevant guidelines, are undertaken on a project-by-project basis in the delivery of all Primary Care Centres.
The main steps involved in carrying out value for money assessments on PCC development include:
Determining and probing service needs.• This involves a review of current and future service needs for each proposed Primary Care Centre location. This is to ascertain and confirm service needs to ensure the project scope is “right sized”.
An assessment of delivery options including cost assessment is then undertaken• . Different delivery options are compared using appraisal tools that help weigh the pros and cons of each option.
A robust, public and open tendering process is carried out• . Current competitions undertaken by the HSE for operational lease and HSE Direct Build are advertised on Etenders.
Along with the earlier assessment of service needs and delivery options, having a competitive response from the market, which can be then benchmarked against other competitions, ensures that value for money is assessed.
Additionally in 2026, officials in my Department and the HSE are undertaking a review of the PCC programme. This will look at factors including usage and utilisation of space, definition of minimum scope of services and delivery timelines. This work will further strengthen the delivery of value for money in this important infrastructure.