Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the application by doctors in a town (details supplied) in County Offaly to provide general practitioners medical care for out of hours service as part of MIDOC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31393/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a suitable premises will be provided in a town (details supplied) in County Offaly where a co-op to provide general practitioners medical care for out of hours service can be provided from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31394/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when out of hours emergency cover as provided by MIDOC will be provided to a town (details supplied) in County Offaly and its hinterland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31396/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 131, inclusive, together.

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 out-of-hours 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.