Vol. 555 No. 2
126 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will grant approval of funding for the provision of a Caredoc out-of-hours family doctor service for Waterford City and County; if he will consider the transfer of funding out of unused practice nurses or secretary grants from the GMS Board which has been previously done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18104/02]
We are advised by the GMS (Payments) Board that it is not possible, at this time, to transfer unused practice nurse or secretary grants to assist in the development of new general practitioner out of hours co-operatives. In any event, I would point out that additional funding totalling €17.2 million has been made available over the past two years for the development of out of hours co-operatives, of which €2.22 million was allocated to the South-Eastern Health Board. This dedicated funding is exclusive of the fees paid to participating general practitioners. All decisions in relation to the geographical areas to be covered by co-operatives and the order of their commencement are matters for the relevant health board to make, having due regard to the range of financial and other issues involved. My Department will pursue the continuing expansion of co-operatives in 2003 in the context of the Estimates process.
