Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

By way of assistance, this amendment does nothing more than allow the Minister for Finance consult with the Minister for Health and Children. It is not prescriptive. Effectively, it allows that consultation would take place.

A measure that could be considered is that of giving accelerated capital allowances to persons to set up primary care centres, a matter touched on by Deputy Bruton. It would be probably universally agreed that GPs provide a very good service in the community in terms of the overall health service.

The amendment seeks to provide for a form of specialist service within each area of the country, but it is being promoted in terms of the private sector. This would ensure that all issues were looked at and it would be put into a legislative basis, in other words, there would be back-up in legislation in that regard. Perhaps the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, would comment on the issue of accelerated capital allowances to ensure, along with what Deputy Sherlock stated, that this issue of the provision of primary care centres would move along at pace. The provision of private hospitals on public lands is very much open to question and this would be a better use of taxpayers' money.

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