Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Health if there are tax incentives for establishing primary care centres or plans to introduce such incentives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10142/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 23 January 2015, my colleague, Minister Lynch and I published the priorities for the Department of Health for the period 2015-2017. Among the priority areas identified for the health sector is the commitment to “modernise health facilities”. This area encompasses a range of key actions, including the development of primary care centres.

One of the measures being undertaken to deliver on this action is a research project to identify and assess the various options, including tax incentives, available to Government to encourage the provision, including the upgrading and refurbishment, of primary care centres in areas where they are needed. My Department has initiated a public procurement process to obtain expertise for this research project and I expect to receive a report on the matter later this year.

Primary care is central to delivering a sustainable universal healthcare system, where care is provided at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as close to home as possible. The development of necessary infrastructure will address capacity in this area and support the delivery of integrated, multi-disciplinary primary care.