I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.
The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to locally-based integrated multidisciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. As part of the development of primary care there has been a very significant increase in resources and capacity for delivery of physiotherapy services in primary care settings, with a target of in excess of 70 new physiotherapy posts to be created with the funding made available in 2006. It is anticipated that physiotherapy capacity will be further expanded in 2007 as a result of the planned establishment of a further 100 Primary Care Teams.
Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to address the particular issues raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.