Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and location of primary care centres established to date in relation to the national primary care strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17714/07]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of primary care teams established to date in relation to the national primary care strategy; the location of these teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17713/07]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of primary care teams established to date; the location of these teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17725/07]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of purpose built primary care centres open to date; the location of these centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17726/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 128, 149 and 171 together.

The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of new Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

The Health Service Executive received an additional €10m in funding in 2006 to enable the establishment of up to 100 Primary Care Teams in development; a further €22m is being provided in 2007 to meet the full year costs of the 2006 developments and to enable a further 100 Primary Care Teams in development to be established. The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009; and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008.

The provision of the appropriate infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of primary care services is being considered by the Health Service Executive, having regard to a number of factors. These include the type and configuration of the services involved, the mixed public/private nature of our health system, the suitability of existing infrastructure and the capital requirements of the health services generally over the coming years.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matters raised by the Deputies. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have replies issued directly to the Deputies.