Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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397. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his plans to construct new primary care centres in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49059/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, 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. The delivery of primary care centres is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation using one of the following delivery mechanisms - direct/own-build (by HSE), or by way of the operational lease with the private sector or through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.

The HSE will deliver the primary care centres at the following locations by direct build - Finglas, Grangegorman, Corduff and Rowlagh North Clondalkin. Primary care centres at Coolock / Darndale and Summerhill in the north inner city Dublin will be delivered through the public private partnership project. In addition, the HSE's NSP 2015 includes details of the new primary care centres for the Dublin area which are to be delivered over 2015 and early 2016. These are shown at Appendix 4 page 77.

As regards the HSE's plans for other Dublin locations, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to sufficient financing. Also there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer through current and capital expenditure. There is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.

Your question has been referred to the HSE to provide an update on plans for other Dublin locations. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter.