Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 25 May 2016, when he will request the Health Service Executive to consider the most appropriate locations for further primary care centre developments, taking into account service needs and other relevant factors; if he will publish the criteria; where he has agreed primary care centres will be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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. Supporting infrastructure, 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. The additional primary care facilities across the country will be provided through a combination of direct build, through Public Private Partnership (PPP) and by way of operational leasing.

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 adequate financing. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation.

In addition to other locations being developed, in November 2014 the HSE advertised an additional 73 locations for delivery of Primary Care Centres by operational lease. The HSE has been reviewing all Expressions of Interest to determine which are suitable for more detailed consideration and progression to the next stage of the process.

Assessment/evaluation criteria employed by the HSE in respect of proposed locations for primary care centres fall under three principal headings: 1. Accommodation needs; 2. Service priority; and 3. deprivation level.

I intend to consider future infrastructure in the context of the implementation of the Health commitments in the Programme for Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.