Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
27 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children his proposals to provide sufficient funding to allow the Caredoc Co-operative Service to commence in County Waterford in 2004; if the €1 million needed in 2005 (details supplied) will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/04]
View answerBetween 2000 and 2003, €7.124 million was allocated to the South Eastern Health Board for the expansion of its out of hours co-operative, Caredoc. In 2004, €3.492 million has been included in the health board's base allocation for the continued provision of services under this heading. The dedicated funding is exclusive of the fees paid to participating general practitioners.
Decisions in relation to the geographical areas to be covered by co-operatives and the order in which developments occur are matters for the relevant health board which must have regard to the range of financial and other issues involved in any such developments. Further expansion will be considered in the context of service requirements, health board proposals and funding availability.
