John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding the Health Service Executive has allocated to implementation of the primary health care strategy in 2005; the amount of funding the Health Service Executive plans to allocate to implementation of the aforementioned strategy in 2006, and the proposed implementation projects, including the way in which resources will be allocated and reorganised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38402/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of the ten primary health care teams and the future plans for development of additional teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38403/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 135: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans on developing private sector investment in primary care services and the delivery of health services in general; her plans for preventing fraud in the system here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38404/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 to 135, inclusive, together.

The implementation of the primary care strategy is first and foremost about developing new ways of working and of reorganising the resources already available to the health service in line with the service model described in the strategy. The whole-system nature of the approach to implementation is such that change will be required in many sectors in the health service, and not solely within primary care itself. While certain funding has been provided specifically to support implementation, additional resources allocated to other sectors will also support the delivery of services in line with the aims of the strategy.

Implementation will require sustained investment, over a period, to expand capacity and enable primary care to become the cornerstone of our health system. Three broad approaches will be taken to enable this to happen, namely, the substantial reorganisation of existing resources; further revenue and capital investment by the State; and a structured role for the private sector in the development of facilities and possibly also the delivery of integrated primary care services in line with national policy.

In 2005, I provided an additional €5 million in revenue funding to support the implementation of the primary care strategy bringing total ongoing revenue funding to €12 million per annum. In order to further support the continued development of primary care services in line with the principles I have outlined, the Government is providing an additional €16 million in 2006. The additional resources will be invested to ensure that they are focused on meaningful developments with maximum front-line impact.

The extra funding will permit the appointment of some 300 additional frontline personnel to work alongside GPs in approximately 75 to 100 teams in the improved delivery of community primary care services, the establishment of an additional 22 GP training places and the further development of general practitioner out-of-hours co-operatives to enable an estimated 350,000 additional persons to benefit from such services.

Beginning in 2002, work was undertaken by the health boards, and continued by the HSE, to establish an initial ten primary care teams, with funding to enable existing staff resources within the public system to be augmented. These teams enable the primary care model to be demonstrated in action and have allowed practical experience to be gained of the process involved in developing a primary care team and providing expanded services in the community. The HSE will be building on the experience gained in these ten projects as it develops team-based primary care services on a wider scale.

In light of the considerable private sector interest in the development of hospitals and long-term care services, I envisage much potential for such developments in primary care to complement investment by the State. I have asked my Department to consider, in conjunction with the HSE, how this agenda can be advanced in a way that will harness this undoubted potential within the non-State sector and so enable and support the delivery of extended and improved primary care services in line with national policy.

Any arrangements that are entered into with the private sector must ensure that appropriate processes are followed in relation to public procurement aspects; that probity is assured; that value for money is achieved; that the best possible service is provided to the patient; and that the control, management and delivery of projects-services ensures the protection of the State's interests.