James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to extend the general practitioner out-of-hours service nationwide to ensure that patients can be seen within one hour of their call; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26759/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to work with general practitioners to ensure constantly improving out-of-hours cover for patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26761/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 243 together.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) reports that GP out-of-hours services dealt with some 830,000 calls in 2007 compared with 750,000 calls in 2006, which represents a growth of 11% over 12 months. The Executive also reports that 90% of the population is now covered by an out-of-hours GP service, compared to 80% in 2006. This growth was mainly due to the full roll out of the North Dublin GP out-of-hours service (D-DOC), which was introduced in 2006 and became fully operational in early 2007.

I welcome the continuing development of GP out-of-hours services throughout the country as it is in line with the overall health service policy of strengthening primary care and ensuring that, to the greatest extent possible, peoples' care needs are met in the primary care setting. Ongoing annual funding of €37 million is available to the HSE to fund the operation of GP out-of-hours services. This figure does not include the fees paid to the participating doctors.

Participation by GPs in an out-of-hours co-operative is voluntary. The geographic areas to be covered by GP co-operatives and any expansion of same are decisions for the HSE to make having regard to the strategic, financial and other issues involved, including the willingness of GPs in a particular area to join a co-operative arrangement. My Department will continue to work with the Executive to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to a "within one hour" service where this is currently not being achieved.