Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004
347 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason funding to extend the Caredoc co-op after hours’ service to Waterford city and county was not included in his Department’s letter of determination to the South Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14664/04]
View answerSome €7.124 million was allocated to the South Eastern Health Board between 2000 and 2003 for the expansion of its out-of-hours co-operative, Caredoc. Some €3.492 million has been included in the health board's base allocation for the continued provision of services under this heading in 2004. This dedicated funding is exclusive of the fees paid to participating general practitioners. All decisions about 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 regard to the range of financial and other issues involved in any such expansion.
