Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 April 2014
234. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health his plans for the upgrading of the health centre in Portumna, County Galway; the plans that exist for a new primary care centre in Portumna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15692/14]
View answerThe development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system.
In 2012 the HSE completed a prioritisation exercise for all primary care centre locations. In addition to the locations' ranks as a result of the prioritisation exercise, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors including GP participation. GP commitment to sharing accommodation with HSE staff and delivering health care services from these facilities is important for primary care centre delivery.
The primary care infrastructure model offers a good fit for public private financing. Significant progress has been achieved using the operational lease mechanism and the HSE continues to work with the private sector to deliver primary care centres by this means. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care centres are also subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available and to successful planning processes. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic exercise, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation.
As with all capital projects the primary care infrastructure programme including this location must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the period 2014-2018 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place.
