Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the funding that is being allocated for the provision of over 80 new primary care facilities as per the €3 billion allocation in the capital investment plan 2016-21; the timeframe for the funding; the details of what is covered in these plans within the 2016-21 timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11969/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Government’s “Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021” was published on 30 September 2015. This Capital Plan presents a €42 billion framework for infrastructure investment in Ireland over the period 2016 to 2021. The Capital Plan includes just over €3 billion for investment in health infrastructure, and the Department of Health has identified five main priority areas to begin a long term programme of transformation of healthcare facilities across the country, including primary care.

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective of delivering 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 multi-disciplinary primary health care.

Three mechanisms are used by the HSE to deliver primary care centres – HSE direct/own-build; public-private partnership (PPP); and operational lease. The direct/own-build and the PPP projects are funded from the HSE’s capital allocation. In all cases, delivery of primary care infrastructure remains a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation. The timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors some which are outside the control of the HSE.

Funding has been indented to progress direct/own-build facilities at up to 14 locations over the period. The PPP delivery mechanism, which allows the spread of the cost of financing infrastructure and facilities management over 25 years in the case of the Health Primary Care Centre PPP project, will also deliver Primary Care Centres at a further 14 locations within a two year period. The financial close for this project was completed today. The construction costs for these 14 PPP facilities will be in the region of €140 million, and the annual unitary charge, which will not be finally determined until the financial close is completed, has been provided for in the multi-annual Capital Plan.

In the context of implementation of the Programme for Government, the HSE will be asked to consider the most appropriate locations for further primary care centre developments, taking into account service needs and all other relevant factors.