Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Health to urgently grant capital investment to Freshford health centre via the Health Service Executive's south development office to ensure that the highest standard of practice and the safest level of primary care is provided for Freshford, County Kilkenny and its surrounding catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6442/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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. Primary care centres procured through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary health care. 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.

There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the primary care infrastructure, including facilities in County Kilkenny, must be prioritised and considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.

As it is responsible for the management of the health care estate the HSE has been requested to reply directly to you on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.