Vol. 474 No. 6
90 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the sources, if any, which are targeted to help fund the development of our primary care system; the likely investment in such development over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3504/97]
Limerick East): The main source of funding for the development of health services, including the primary care services, comes from the annual Exchequer allocation to the Department of Health. Value for money initiatives such as the indicative drug target scheme for general practitioners also contribute to the financing of improvements in the primary care area.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is difficult to predict the level of such investment, over the timescale referred to in his question, which is dependent on a number of factors including the general financial situation at a particular point in time and the priorities for the development of the health services as a whole. However, I would point out that, from 1993 — i.e. the commencement of the general practice development programme — to the end of 1996, some £13.5 million from the general practice development fund and approximately £29 million from the indicative drug target savings scheme has been made available for investment in the general practice area of primary care. In addition, from 1992 to the end of 1996, an amount of the order of £17 million has been made available by my Department from the capital programme for investment in the community health area of primary care.
