Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 28: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the costing for the full implementation of the 2001 primary heath care strategy; the progress made to date on the implementation of the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8605/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Implementation of the primary care strategy requires the development of new ways of working and reorganisation of the resources already available to the health service, as well as additional investment in order to provide extra capacity. This whole-system approach to implementation means change will be required in many sectors in the health service, and not solely within primary care itself. The estimated cost of implementation of the primary care strategy over an initial period of ten years is contained in the strategy document, Primary Care: A New Direction.

The strategy estimated the additional staffing costs involved, allowing for the availability of existing staff and taking account of the composition of typical core teams and the associated network professionals, at approximately €615 million per annum for the first 400 to 600 teams. The capital cost, at 2001 prices, of developing a primary care facility was estimated at some €2.5 million for each team, which is approximately €1.27 billion for the first 400 to 600 teams. The strategy also estimated that up to €63 million in once-off costs and running costs of €12.7 million per annum would be required for ICT supports.

In relation to implementation, an initial group of ten primary care teams have been established nationally, with funding to enable existing staff resources within the public system to be augmented. Funding has also been applied to a range of other initiatives intended to advance implementation. These include: planning and mapping work by the HSE; service developments in specific locations; a review of ICT needs in primary care; support to university departments of general practice and the Irish College of General Practitioners; and research fellowships in primary care.

To support further implementation of the strategy in 2006, additional revenue funding of €16 million has been provided. Of this funding, €10 million is to support the establishment of 75 to 100 primary care teams nationally. This will enable the provision of 300 additional frontline personnel to work alongside GPs to provide integrated and accessible services in the community.

I have been informed by the HSE that work to establish these primary care teams in development is under way. I understand that the executive will be targeting the funding so as to provide each local health office of the HSE with the potential to develop up to three primary care teams. The executive hopes to focus where possible on areas of disadvantage and with health inequalities in planning for the establishment of these teams.

A sum of €4 million has been provided for the establishment of additional GP training places and €2 million to enhance GP out-of-hours co-ops. This means that, taking into account development funding provided since 2002, €28 million is available in 2006 specifically to support the implementation of the primary care strategy. However, other development funding will also be used to support the delivery of services in line with the principles of the strategy.