Vol. 510 No. 4
139 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason no decision has been made on any pharmacy application which would fall under the new legislation under the local pharmacy contractor agreements; the impact this is having on small local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22867/99]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Health (Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement) Regulations 1996, which specify the criteria and procedures under which the chief executive officer of the relevant health board shall determine the issue of new community pharmacy contractor agreements for the provision of community pharmacy services under the Health Act, 1970. Information received from health boards last month indicates that 68 applications for community pharmacy contractor agreements have been determined by chief executive officers of health boards since the regulations were introduced in 1996.
One of the aims of the regulations is to promote the provision of community pharmacy services in rural and local communities. I am satisfied that the regulations can only have a positive impact in this regard.
