Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on supporting general practitioners to build their own primary care units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35386/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There has historically been a mix of private and public facilities provision in general practice. In many cases general practitioners fund their own practice premises, while in others they practise from State-owned health centres, from which other health professionals also provide services.

The strategy Primary Care: A New Direction recognises that the provision of modern, well-equipped, accessible premises will be central to the effective functioning of primary care teams and networks. Therefore, one of the key objectives is to facilitate and encourage the development, where appropriate, of modern, well-equipped, user-friendly buildings in which the broad range of primary care services, including general practice, can be delivered.

The Government is committed to developing policy in such a way as to encourage innovative approaches to the provision of facilities and services to support the development and operation of primary care teams and networks in accordance with the objectives of the primary care strategy.

The indicative drug target scheme aims to encourage rational prescribing practices on the part of GPs in return for access to funds for approved practice developments, research and education and additional primary care expertise at practice level. In view of concerns raised regarding the liability to the Exchequer arising from the operation of the scheme in its present form, and in line with my commitment to the ongoing review of the operation of the GMS and community drugs schemes, my Department and the Health Service Executive have recently agreed terms of reference with the Irish Medical Organisation for a full review of the scheme. This review will encompass all aspects of the scheme and will consider the most appropriate future arrangements to encourage rational and cost-effective prescribing in general practice.

The nature and means of providing the physical facilities required to support the delivery of modern, high-quality general practitioner services in line with national policy on primary care will, it is expected, be among the matters to be considered in the review of publicly-funded primary care services involving general practitioners, which is currently taking place under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission.