Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is her policy to implement the primary care strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15501/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government is fully committed to the implementation of the principles contained in the primary care strategy, which provides a template for the reform and development of primary care services. The implementation process at operational level is a function of the Health Service Executive, whose chief executive officer has identified as a priority the development of multidisciplinary primary care services, both as the appropriate service to meet people's health and social care needs and to complement the services provided by acute hospitals. This is an important priority of the executive and has my full endorsement.

The 2006 Estimate for the HSE includes an additional €10 million in revenue funding to enable the establishment of up to 100 new primary care teams. This will enable the provision of some 300 additional frontline personnel to work alongside GPs in order to provide integrated and accessible services in the community. Work by the HSE to establish these teams is under way. In addition, €2 million has been allocated to allow the further development of GP co-operatives and €4 million has been provided to continue a phased increase in the number of GP training places from 84 to 150.

Implementation of the primary care strategy will focus on the reorganisation of the resources already available to the health service and on developing new ways of working in line with the service model described in the strategy. Over €7 billion will be spent by the HSE on primary, community and continual care services in 2006, and almost half of this is already specifically designated for primary care and community health services. This whole-system approach to implementation means change will be required in many sectors in the health service, and not solely within primary care. It is within this context that additional resources can be deployed to best effect.