Last October, my Department gave the go-ahead for the establishment of ten implementation projects and funding totalling €8.4 million has been provided in 2002 and 2003 for this purpose. The projects involve putting in place, at ten locations throughout the country, a primary care team which will include GPs, nurses and midwives, healthier assistants, home helps an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, a social worker and administrative personnel. As the ten projects are rolled out, more than 80,000 people will benefit from having direct access to an improved range of primary care services. As the new model is developed, a wider network of other primary care professionals will also provide services as the needs of the populations in the catchment areas dictate. These ten projects will inform the wider expansion of the primary care model as envisaged in the health strategy in the years 2005 and 2006,