Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of proposed primary care centres that have been designated to be built by means of one hundred per cent State capital funding; the date on which construction will commence in each case; his policy regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41866/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The development of primary care is central to this Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health system. The development of primary care centres, through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary care and represents a tangible re-focussing of the health service to deliver care in the most appropriate and lowest cost setting.

A number of Primary Care Centres funded from the Exchequer health capital allocation only, have been completed this year. These are Ballyfermot, Inchicore and Glentees in Donegal.

In addition, a centre is under construction at Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim and centres planned for Ballinamore, Co. Roscommon and Sligo are at tender stage.

The HSE has put together a list of high priority locations for the development of primary care centres across the country. It is the intention to develop as many centres as possible by one of three separate methods:

- direct investment

- by way of leasing arrangements or by way of

- Public Private Partnership

As this work continues to evolve it is not possible to state how many will be built by way of exchequer funds, nor is it possible, therefore, to state when construction will commence in each case.