Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on progress towards the establishment of the much needed out of hours general practitioner service in Tallaght, Dublin 24; her views on the strong support for such a development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30983/07]

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. In 2007, almost €37 million is available to the HSE to fund the operation of GP out of hours services. 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 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.