Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Government is committed to continuing the primary care programme. The Exchequer is involved at all levels in so far as the Health Service Executive is directly building some of these centres or they are being built privately with the executive leasing them for its staff. Already 200 centres are under consideration for leasing arrangements with 90 in contract arrangements, of which 30 will open this year. They are progressing despite current economic difficulties.

The capital expenditure incurred for diagnostic or treatment equipment also qualifies for tax relief at 12.5% per annum over eight years, a recognition that the equipment can suffer wear and tear. That element is covered. The Minister for Health and Children has a report from the Oireachtas joint committee that sets out nine different reliefs. We do not want to examine any of these reliefs in isolation but suffice it to say we are committed to primary care centres. They provide a better quality of service to the patient, resulting in better health care and reducing pressure on hospitals. At a time when we are removing tax allowances for other capital facilities, including in the Department of Health and Children for child care facilities, it is not our intention to reintroduce them at this stage.

Recommendation, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 21 agreed to.

Sitting suspended at 1.30 p.m. and resumed at 2.30 p.m.