John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for the decisive shift to primary care promised in the programme for Government; the way in which this will be benchmarked in terms of health expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4671/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Partnership Government confirmed the Government's commitment to a decisive shift towards primary care. In this context, I am bringing a renewed focus to the development of primary care and my Department's Statement of Strategy 2016-2019 sets out a range of actions aimed at improving health outcomes and the health services over the next three years. Amongst the key areas to be addressed in this context are:

- Further development of multidisciplinary primary care teamworking;

- Planning and resourcing the primary care workforce;

- Promoting the provision of necessary infrastructural capacity;

- Development of chronic disease management in primary care; and

- Negotiation of a modernised GP contract.

My Department will work with a range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, service users and the HSE to advance the work in these areas.

My Department has also commenced work on an overall model of care which will inform the assessment of future capacity requirements across the different parts of the health sector. This model of care will be informed by international best practice and the work underway has included engagement with experts from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare was established by order of the Dáil to agree an all-party 10 year plan for the future of the health service and will consider issues such as the direction of health policy. I look forward to the outcome of the Committee's work as a further contribution to the development of the direction of travel over the years ahead.

The HSE's annual National Service Plans detail the expenditure limits for the HSE and provide details on priorities, actions and the type and volume of service that will be provided from the annual funding allocated. In addition, they list the performance indicators against which performance is measured. The Performance and Accountability Framework provides for the HSE to closely monitor the delivery of services in accordance with the agreed targets and within the agreed financial allocation and to take appropriate steps in terms of support and/or intervention as and when the need arises.