Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

I move recommendation No. 9:

In page 25, before section 21, to insert the following new section:

21.—The Minister may, by regulations, and after consultation with the Minister for Health, introduce specific reliefs to help equip Primary Care Centres with appropriate diagnostic and treatment facilities where he is satisfied that they bring commensurate social benefits in the more effective provision of health services."

This relates to primary care centres, an issue I raised on Second Stage. No one wants to encourage tax relief on property after the mess we got ourselves into in recent years. Primary care centres, however, are an integrated part of Government health policy. There is a specific strategy where primary care teams would be formed and, if possible, work under the one roof in primary care centres. A number of these centres have been constructed and a number are in the planning stage. Unfortunately, because the property bubble burst, the economic downturn is having an effect on this area. I would be concerned that it could affect the delivery of care to patients in the future.

When the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health came into the House to talk about "A Vision for Change", it was structured around delivering community care in primary care centres through general practice, with the multidisciplinary approach of bringing general practitioners, nurses and HSE staff together. That policy development is grinding to a halt and there is a need to do something to get it going again. I asked the Minister for Finance to ensure these health centres are targeted if tax reliefs are going to be put in place, be they for primary care, GP services, mental health services, public health nursing or any of the allied health care professions. We must make this policy work but we are slipping backwards.