Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to build further primary care units from public moneys; the locations and timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10436/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I understand the Deputy to be referring to the provision of primary care centres through the Exchequer funded Capital Programme.

The building or extension, refurbishment and fitting out of primary care facilities in deprived urban areas and in small rural towns continues to be funded through the Exchequer funded Capital Programme.

New centres completed in 2008 and 2009 include Pearse Street in Dublin; Westbury, Co Clare and Coolaney, Co Sligo. A number of centres in other locations such as Shantalla, Inis Oirr and Clonbur, Co Galway; Strokestown, Co Roscommon; Irishtown, Dublin 4; Millbrook Lawns, Tallaght; Newport, Ballycastle and Louisburgh, Co Mayo were extended or refurbished and a leased facility at Dundrum, Dublin was fitted out.

A Primary Care Centre at Inchicore which is part of a major infrastructural development for the area will be progressed from the Capital Programme and is expected to be completed by late 2011. A facility at Ballyogan is expected to be fully operational by mid-2010.

The Deputy may also be aware that the HSE, with my support, is implementing an innovative new programme for financing the development of 200 primary care centres. The HSE sought expressions of interest from the private sector in December 2007 and in July 2008 for the provision of primary care centres for primary care teams through leasing arrangements. Seven such centres have opened to date. Another 25 will open by the end of 2010.