Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of complaints to a medical facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; the amount of money invested in this facility by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26368/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Out of hours co-operatives allow general practitioners to put in place arrangements to provide services to their patients, while their surgeries are closed in the evenings, on weekends and bank holidays. The development of GP co-operatives is in line with the overall health service policy of strengthening primary care services and ensuring that to the greatest extent possible, people's care needs are met in the primary care setting.

Out of hours co-operatives are now in place in all Health Service Executive (HSE) areas, providing coverage in all or in part of all counties. K Doc covers the areas of County Kildare and West Wicklow. It commenced providing services on 5th March, 2001. Its treatment centres are based in Newbridge, Celbridge and Athy. Between 2000 and 2005, almost €12 million was allocated to the HSE, Eastern area (Dublin, Kildare & Wicklow) for the expansion of their GP out of hours co-operatives. This figure does not include the fees of the participating doctors.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for this service, it is the appropriate body to provide the other information sought by the Deputy . My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.