Olivia Mitchell
Question:14 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding provided annually to the primary care strategy for each of the years 2001 to 2004, inclusive [18399/04]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
14 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding provided annually to the primary care strategy for each of the years 2001 to 2004, inclusive [18399/04]
View answerIn 2002 development funding of €5 million was provided to support the implementation of the strategy. An additional €2 million was allocated in 2003 and brought the ongoing additional development funding to €7 per annum. In 2002 €2 million in capital funding and a further €1 million in respect of information and communications technology supports was also provided.
Since the strategy was published I have also provided significant further support for the development of general practice out-of-hours co-operatives. Additional funding of €17.3 million was provided in 2002 and a further €4.14 million in 2003. Therefore, an additional €21.44 million is now included in the base funding. It is in addition to the substantial funding already in the system for the delivery of a wide range of primary and community care services. The strategy identified that a significant component of the development of primary care teams, in the short to medium term, would involve the reorientation of existing staff and resources.