Health deal to create 250 new construction jobs

A successful Galway building firm is leading the construction of 14 primary health care centres across the country – with the creation of 250 new jobs in the process.
Six of the centres are in the West of Ireland, including one in Tuam which is located on the site of the old Grove Hospital.
JJ Rhatigan had its origins in Milltown but is now based in Galway city and his company is part of the €140 million scheme which will provide vital employment over the next couple of years.
Managing Director Padraig Rhatigan said that it had the potential to provide more than 250 jobs over the next couple of years. He expressed delight with the contract.
“It is a great boost for the company because the last few years have been difficult. The target is that we will start construction before the end of the year.
“There is no doubt that it is a big contract and one that we appreciate getting. We estimate that the primary care centres in the 14 locations will be completed inside two years,” Mr Rhatigan added.
It has been confirmed that a consortium, which includes Balfour Beatty, JJ Rhatigan and Aramark, has been chosen as preferred tenders to provide 14 new primary care centres in Ireland as part of Ireland’s first healthcare Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.
The €140 million scheme, which is part of the Government’s €2.25 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Programme, will provide a network of primary care facilities integrating primary, community and continuing care and social services.

For more on this story, see the Connacht Tribune.