Written answers

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Department of Health

Primary Care Centre Provision

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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482. To ask the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres planned for the Kildare-west Wicklow area of the Health Service Executive for 2015-16; the number of actual contracts signed in regard to such centres or the number of sites identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2841/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The delivery of primary care infrastructure is currently underway at Kildare town, Rathangan/Monasterevin, Kilcock, Blessington and Wicklow town. The Kilcock development will be delivered as part of the PPP PCC project and it is expected to be completed by early 2017. The other locations are expected to be delivered in 2015/Q1 2016. Please see the HSE NSP 2015 page 77.

As regards the HSE's plans for other locations in Kildare and west Wicklow, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors including staffing. 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 infrastructure delivery 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 Kildare/West Wicklow 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.

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