Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

Like the Minister earlier, I am not sure if I am on the right section. Unlike Senator Doherty, however, I would tend to support Senator Twomey. I would look at the success or otherwise of primary care centres. The Department of Health and Children had a target for a number of these centres to be strategically placed to take pressure off other service providers, particularly accident and emergency wards in hospitals. Some of the centres have been developed and have proved to be a success. There are gaps throughout the country, however, where we have not been able to establish such centres.

A business plan is necessary for centres to attract investors so those participating can support the business plan. Arising from this amendment and looking at section 43 where it refers to capital allowances, could the Minister and the Department along with the Department of Health and Children examine this aspect of the primary care centres and the allowances permitted under section 43, especially for nursing homes? I wrote to the Minister for Finance as long ago as last October. I appreciate the Department's officials will have a certain blinkered vision but when will we speak to the Department of Health and Children? When can we find out, for example, whether its targets for primary care centres have been achieved and, if not, the reason for its failure? It may be that the country's changed economic situation means investors and financial institutions are less prepared to take risks.

Financial institutions were offering up to 100% funding but now they are demanding 40:60 ratios. The investment required for primary care centres is in the region of €4 million. How can anybody in today's economic environment come up with 40% of that amount of money?

Nursing homes give rise to similar issues.