Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Health the reason that Swords and Balbriggan, County Dublin, slipped down the list for preferred primary care centre locations after the weighting towards disadvantage criteria was tripled in view of information (details supplied) that showed that Swords and Balbriggan were at a similar position on the list both before and after the weighting towards disadvantage was increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42363/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2012 a number of lists were drawn up by the HSE and discussed with the Department of Health.Initially a mathematical formula placed a priority ranking on circa 200 locations where the HSE wished to develop Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Primary Care Centres (PCCs).

The three indices included a score for accommodation, service priority, and urban & rural deprivation. The matter is further complicated by the fact that 3 distinct delivery/financing methodologies were also considered, namely direct investment, lease, and PPPs.

In the list of 200, 21 separate options for PPP are interspersed throughout. It is therefore clear that the potential net for PPP possibilities is drawn from 23 to no. 181. It was important to note that Swords was ranked at 130 and Balbriggan at 47.

When the index for urban and rural deprivation was multiplied by 3 to produce a further list in July, this list produced a new ranking of 338 locations in need of PCCs.This is further complicated by the increase in the number of PPP options which then totalled 44.

The decision-making at that point was further complicated by converting planned direct options into PPPs. Swords ends up positioned at 135 and Balbriggan at 43. The effect of that change left Swords and Balbriggan excluded from the PPP list.

By any objective, structured criteria, Balbriggan and Swords should receive primary care centres. Had they been completed in accordance with the original 2008 list of the HSE they would have been developed as a matter of priority and would now be serving the population of swords and Balbiggan.