Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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438. To ask the Minister for Health the number and location of the primary care centres that have been established since March 2011; the number and location of centres planned between now and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20302/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system. Supporting infrastructure, procured through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multidisciplinary primary health care. Considerable progress has been achieved to date. 37 primary care centres have been opened since March 2011 and infrastructure development is underway at a further forty three locations.

In addition to the rank of the locations as a result of the 2012 prioritisation exercise, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors, including GP participation. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care centres are also subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available and to successful planning processes. In addition, the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to sufficient financing.

As regards the PPP project, the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) published a Prior Indicative Notice (PIN) / Pre-Qualification Questionnaire in the OJEU on 19 December 2013. Four submissions were received by the closing date which was 10 March 2014. Information can be located at the following web address: . It is expected that 10-14 sites (indicative number 12 based on affordability) will be delivered as part of a single PPP contract with the remaining centres to be delivered by the HSE using other procurement means.

As with all capital projects this programme must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the period 2014-2018 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. Nevertheless, where possible, the HSE's capital programme will include provision to progress primary care centres with the highest ranking following the 2012 national prioritisation exercise by direct/own-build in the event that other delivery mechanisms are not feasible.

Please see the following table, which provides the information on primary care infrastructure -

- Primary care infrastructure opened since March 2011

- Primary care infrastructure underway

- The PPP project.

Primary Care Centres opened since March 2011 Update at 30 April 2014