Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I repeat that the development of new primary care health centres is a priority for the Government. As Deputy Kelleher will be aware, funding has been allocated. The Deputy will have seen the centres that have already opened.

Clearly, that has to be a huge part of the focus in making sure there are appropriate referrals to emergency departments. The renegotiation of the GP contract is a key part of dealing with the pressures that are very evident in GP practices throughout the country. Attracting and retaining staff in GP practices must also be a focus in order to ensure we will have local primary care centres. There is an absolute focus on the development and opening of new primary care centres throughout the country to deal with the pressures. Appropriate referral is obviously one of the key parts, but there are also the initiatives that have been taken in different hospitals. I point to what is happening in Beaumont Hospital as an example in that regard. It is very clear that there are hospitals which are dealing with the huge pressures they are under by developing new systems of management. They have also been given extra resources.

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