DT News - UK - Ireland receives millions from EIB for new health care facilities

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 16 June 2016

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DUBLIN, Ireland: Work on more than a dozen new primary care health centres across Ireland began last week after the European Investment Bank (EIB) green-lighted a €70 million loan for the project from the European Fund for Strategic Investments. In addition to dentistry, the 14 new facilities will offer general health care, community nursing and a number of other services, the Department of Health in Dublin said.

The centres, which will be built in the capital and cities like Limerick and Waterford, are anticipated to open within the next two years. According to the department, they will serve the public at least five days a week, with extra hours at weekends and evenings for some services.

A consortium of Prime, Balfour Beatty and its investors Prime UK Holdings and HICL Infrastructure is handling the project. It was announced as the preferred tenderer in May last year.

It is the first time that the EIB has approved an investment in Irish health care facilities. According to reports, the balance of the significant finance required will be provided by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and German insurance company Talanx.

“We look forward, with their support and assistance, to the delivery of state-of-the-art 21^st century health care facilities,” Minister for Health Simon Harris said. “Enhancing and expanding capacity in the primary care sector is crucial to ensuring delivery of a preventive, joined-up approach to the management of the nation’s health and the modernisation of primary care delivery.”

“My ultimate goal is to ensure that people get the care they need as close to home as possible, and have access to a greater range of health and social care services in their community,” he added.

According to Eurostat figures, the number of practising dentists in Ireland has dwindled lately, owing to high practice maintenance costs and cuts to health care subsidies.

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