To complement the primary care model, it was envisaged that in the short term, general practice co-operatives would be established on a national basis so that effective out of hours services would be available in all parts of the country. The funding provided for out of hours co-operatives in 2002 totalled €17 million. Each health board region now has GP co-operatives in place and these are being progressively extended board-wide. Negotiations are ongoing on further expansion this year.