Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he remains committed to the provision of 300 additional frontline posts in the area of primary care; the reason these posts have yet to be announced; when these posts will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42777/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he intends for a consortium of general practitioners to employ the additional frontline posts that are needed for the roll out of primary care or if he is still committed to providing these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42778/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 589 together.

The HSE's National Primary Care Office and Health Intelligence Unit has, in recent months, developed a Resource Allocation model, based on deprivation and need. Using this model, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. Based on this analysis, it proposed that the following additional posts be recruited: 70 Public Health Nurses; 37 Registered General Nurses; 51 Occupational Therapists; 46 Physiotherapists; 47 Speech & Language Therapists.

The HSE has sought approval to increase its Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) ceiling to facilitate the recruitment process. Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he remains committed to negotiating a new general practitioner contract; the progress made to date in negotiating the new contract in order to ensure the roll out of universal primary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42781/12]

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made in the introduction of a new General Medical Scheme contract; if this contract will have an emphasis on the management of chronic conditions and a requirement for general practitioners to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary primary care teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43342/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 685 together.

The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) contract with an increased emphasis on the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It is envisaged that the new contract, when finalised, will focus on prevention and will include a requirement for GPs to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary Primary Care Teams.

My Department and the HSE are currently examining the changes that need to be made to the GMS contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. There have been preliminary discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to outline policy in this regard and I would hope that we will be able to engage in further discussions before long.