Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

The significance of primary care teams has nothing to do with buildings or new facilities, even though there are many of both. These teams involve health care professionals working differently together around patients. As stated previously, I recently met a health care nurse who has reduced, by half of one working day a week, the amount of time she spends seeking to make contact with colleagues dealing with the same patients as her.

By September last, 165 teams were operational. By the end of the year there will be some 210 teams in operation. The Deputy's question relates to contracts in respect of new facilities and I informed him that negotiations with interested parties proceeded in respect of 163 locations. These negotiations are at various stages.

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