General Practitioner Co-Operatives.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2004

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

Questions (152)

Gerard Murphy

Question:

219 Mr. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the general practitioner co-operative service will be implemented in 2005 for the people of north Cork (details supplied). [26835/04]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The funding provided for out of hours co-operatives in the Southern Health Board to date is over €10 million. The funding provided for general practitioner out of hours co-operatives between 2000 and 2003 totalled €46.5 million. The total funding available in 2004 amounts to in excess of €26 million. This dedicated funding does not include fees paid to participating general practitioners for attending patient calls. Further expansion will be considered in the context of service requirements, health board proposals and funding availability.